''THE  JMASTER  OF  IMTSTERY" 

WILLIAM  LE   QtJEUX'S  NOVELS 


"Mr.  William  Le  Queax  retains  his  position  as  'The 
Master  of  Mystery.'  .  .  .  He  is  far  too  skilful  to  allow 
pause  for  thought;  he  whirls  his  readers  from  incident 
to  incident,  holding  their  attention  from  the  first  page 
to  the  close  of  the  book." — Pall  }lall  Gazette. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  is  the  master  of  mystery.  He  never 
fails  to  produce  the  correct  illusion.  He  always  leaves 
us  panting  for  more  —  a  brilliant  feat." — Daily  Graphic. 

"Mr.  Le  Queux  is  still  'The  Master  of  Mystery.'" — 
Madame. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  is  a  most  experienced  hand  in  writing 
sensational  fiction.  He  never  loses  the  grip  of  his 
readers." —  Publishers'    Circular. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  always  grips  his  reader,  and  holds 
him  to  the  last  page." — Bristol   Times   and  Mirror. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux's  books  once  begun  must  be  read  to 
the   end." —  Evening    News. 

"  There  is  no  better  companion  on  a  railway  journey 
than    Mr.    William    Le    Queux." — Daily    Mail. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  knows  his  business,  and  carries  it  on 
vigorously  and  prosperously.  His  stories  are  always 
fantastic    and   thrilling." —  Daily    Telegraph. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  is  an  adept  at  the  semi-detective  story. 
His   work  is   always  excellent." —  Review   of  Reviews. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  is  always  so  refreshing  in  his  stories 
of  adventure  that  one  knows  on  taking  up  a  new  book 
of   his  that  one  will  be   amused." — Birmingham   Post. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux's  books  are  delightfully  convincing." — 
Scotsman. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux's  books  are  always  exciting  and  ab- 
sorbing. His  mysteries  are  enthralling  and  his  skill  is 
world-famous." —  Liverpool    Daily    Post. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  has  brought  the  art  of  the  sensational 
novel    to    high    perfection." — Northern    Whig. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  is  so  true  to  his  own  style  that  any  one 
familiar  with  his  books  would  guess  him  to  be  the 
author,  even  if  his  name  were  not  given." —  Methodist 
'Recorder. 

"  '  As  good  wine  needs  no  bush  '   so  no  mystery  story 

by  Mr.   Le   Queux,  the  popular  weaver  of  tales  of  crime, 

"  %ed3Pte^^''''   ^o'^    ^^*   feiiUl.      Any   n^vel   with   this   author's 

name  rn^PP^'^'^^'^    is    sure   to   be   ingenious   in    design   and 

cleverW    'worked    out." — Bf^pksellfT. 

The  reader  who 


Le   Queux's   is  away 


lows  what  to  expect. 


picks  lu)  au.v  o*  his  l.ijest  noveri 
— Bookman. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux's  admirers  are  legi'oni  and  the  issue  of 
a  new  novel  is  to  them  one  of  the  mos^  felicitous  events 
that   can   happen." — Newcastle    Daily    clf.'^onicle. 

"  Mr.  Le  Queux  is  the  master  of  the  al^t  of  mystery- 
creating." —  Liverpool   Daily   Post. 


AJadame   Quero   ^vas   startled. 


THE  INTRIGUERS 


BY 

WILLIAM  LE  QUEUX 

Author  of  "The  Doctor  of  Pimlico,"  etc. 


NEW  YORK 
THE  MACAULAY  COMPANY 


Copyright,  1921 
By  the  MACAULAY  COMPANY 

All  rights  reserved 


PRINTED    IN    THE    T7.    S.    A. 


THE  INTRIGUERS 


2137181   ' 


CHAPTER  I 

The  scene  was  Dean  Street,  Soho,  and  this  story 
opens  on  a  snowy  winter  night  in  the  January  of 
1888.  The  modern  improvements  o£  Shaftesbury 
Avenue  were  as  yet  unmade,  and  the  foreign  district 
of  London  had  still  to  be  opened  up. 

A  cold  north  wind  was  blowing  on  the  few  pedes- 
trians whom  necessity,  or  some  urgent  obligation, 
had  compelled  to  tramp  the  pavements  laden  with 
snow.  A  few  cabs  and  carriages  crawled  along  the 
difficult  roadway  to  the  Eoyalty  Theatre,  deposited 
their  occupants  and  crawled  back  again. 

iN'ello  Corsini,  a  slim,  handsome  young  Italian, 
poorly  clad,  carrying  a  violin-case  in  one  hand,  wan- 
dered down  the  narrow  street,  leading  with  his  other 
a  slender  girl  of  about  eighteen,  his  sister,  Anita. 
She  was  dressed  as  shabbily  as  he  was. 

The  snow  was  lying  thickly  on  the  streets  and 
roads,  but  it  had  ceased  to  fall  a  couple  of  hours  ago. 
The  two  itinerant  musicians  had  crept  out  at  once, 
as  soon  as  the  weather  showed  signs  of  mending,  from 
their  poor  lodging. 

They  had  only  a  few  pence  left.  The  bitter 
weather  of  the  last  few  days  had  affected  their  miser- 
able trade  very  adversely.  It  was  necessary  they 
should  take  advantage  of  to-night,  for  the  purpose  of 
scratching  together  something  for  the  evening  meal. 

7 


8  THE  INTRIGUERS 

There  were  lights  in  several  windows.  It  was,  o£ 
course,  far  from  being  a  wealthy  quarter;  but  there 
could  be  none  behind  those  warm-looking  lights, 
safely  sheltered  from  the  cold  and  wind,  so  wretched 
as  these  two  poor  children  of  fortune  who  would  have 
to  go  supperless  to  bed  if  they  could  not  charm  a  few 
pence  out  of  the  passers-by. 

Nello  withdrew  his  violin  from  its  case  with  his 
cold  fingers.  Just  as  he  was  about  to  draw  the  bow 
across  the  strings,  a  carriage  passed  down  the  street 
on  its  way  to  the  Royalty  Theatre.  Inside  was  a 
handsome  man  verging  upon  thirty-five.  Beside  him 
sat  a  very  beautiful  girl.  Nello  glanced  at  them 
swiftly  as  they  came  by.  They  were  evidently  not 
English,  but  he  could  not  for  the  moment  guess  at 
their  nationality. 

They  certainly  did  not  belong  to  any  one  of  the 
Latin  races,  that  was  evident.  It  was  not  till  later 
that  he  discovered  their  identity.  The  tall,  imperi- 
ous-looking man  was  Prince  Zouroff,  the  Russian 
Ambassador  to  the  Court  of  St.  James's.  The  girl, 
about  twenty,  was  his  young  sister,  the  Princess 
Nada. 

The  young  Princess  was  as  kind  and  sweet-na- 
tured  as  she  was  beautiful.  She  caught  sight  of  the 
two  mendicants,  for  as  such  she  regarded  them, 
standing  there  in  the  snow,  and  a  gleam  of  compas- 
sion came  into  her  lovely  eyes.  Impetuously,  she 
pulled  at  the  check-string,  with  the  intention  of  stop- 
ping the  carriage  and  giving  them  money. 

Her  brother  laid  his  hand  on  hers  roughly. 

"  What  foolish  thing  were  you  going  to  do  now. 


THE  INTRIGUEKS  9 

IsTada?  Your  sentimentality  is  an  absolute  curse  to 
you.  If  you  had  your  own  way,  you  would  give  to 
every  whining  beggar  in  the  street." 

She  shrank  back  as  if  he  had  struck  her  a  blow. 
There  was  no  love  lost  between  the  two.  He  despised 
her  for  her  kind,  charitable  instincts;  she  disliked 
him  for  his  hard,  domineering  nature,  unsoftened  by 
any  lovable  or  generous  qualities.  She  put  back  the 
purse  which  she  had  drawn  hastily  from  her  pocket. 
Her  mouth  curled  in  a  mutinous  and  contemptuous 
smile,  but  she  returned  no  answer  to  the  brutal  words. 

ISTello  played  on  in  the  cold  and  biting  wind. 
When  he  had  finished,  his  sister  had  been  the  recip- 
ient of  two  smalt  donations  from  the  few  passers-by. 
The  girl's  heart  already  felt  lighter.  They  could  not 
€xpect  very  much  on  such  an  unpropitious  night  as 
this. 

And  then,  as  the  young  violinist  paused,  from  the 
first  floor  of  one  of  the  houses  close  to  them,  there 
floated  faintly  into  the  air  the  strains  of  a  sweet  and 
melancholy  air,  played  with  exquisite  taste  and  feel- 
ing. 

Xello  listened  eagerly,  while  his  heart  contracted 
with  a  spasm  of  pain.  The  man  who  had  played  that 
beautiful  little  melancholy  romance  was  as  capable 
a  violinist  as  himself.     Alas,  how  diff'erent  their  lots ! 

When  the  sounds  had  died  away,  the  young  man 
resumed  his  instrument.  He  played  over  twice  that 
beautiful  theme  which  had  impressed  him  so  strongly, 
and  then,  as  if  inspired,  wove  into  it  a  series  of  bril- 
liant variations. 

He  felt  he  was  playing  as  he  had  only  played  onco 


10  THE  INTRIGUERS 

or  twice  before  in  his  life.  Soon,  a  small  crowd  was 
gathered  on  the  pavement,  in  spite  of  the  icy  temper- 
ature. And  when  Anita  went  round  shamefacedly 
with  her  little  bag,  she  met  with  a  liberal  response. 
Nello  need  play  no  more  that  night,  they  had  enough 
for  their  humble  needs;  they  would  get  home  as 
quickly  as  possible.  He  had  contracted  a  heavy  cold 
from  which  he  was  still  suffering.  To-morrow  he 
could  stop  indoors  and  she  would  nurse  him,  as  she 
had  so  often  done  before. 

She  whispered  the  good  news  into  her  brother's  ear, 
and  joyfully  he  placed  the  violin  back  into  its  case. 
The  small  crowd,  noting  the  action,  melted  away. 
The  friendless  young  souls  linked  their  arms  together, 
stepped  on  to  the  pavement  and  turned  in  the  direc- 
tion of  their  humble  lodging. 

Bvit  they  had  not  taken  half  a  dozen  steps  when 
the  door  of  a  house  was  opened  very  quietly,  and  an 
extraordinary  figure  stepped  out  and  beckoned  to 
them. 

"  My  poor  children,  it  is  a  wretched  night  for  you 
to  be  out."  This  peculiar-looking  old  man  was  speak- 
ing in  a  very  kind  and  gentle  voice.  They  noticed 
his  face  was  withered  and  furrowed  with  the  deep 
lines  of  age.  He  wore  a  bristling  white  moustache, 
which  gave  him  rather  a  military  air  in  spite  of  his 
stooping  figure.  He  had  on  a  tiny  skull  cap  to  de- 
fend himself  against  the  keen  night  air,  but  under- 
neath it  his  snow-white  locks  were  abundant. 

He  turned  to  young  Corsini,  peering  at  him 
through  his  tortoiseshell-rimmed  glasses.  "  You  have 
the  gift,  my  young  friend;  you  played  those  varia- 


THE  INTRIGUEES  11 

tions  divinely.  Our  neighbour  over  the  way  is  a  de- 
cent performer,  he  plays  in  a  very  good  orchestra,  but 
he  has  not  your  fire,  your  brilliancy." 

He  fumbled  in  his  pocket  and  produced  a  shilling, 
which  he  pressed  upon  Anita,  who  shrank  back  a  lit- 
tle. She  had  not  always  been  accustomed  to  this 
sort  of  half-charity. 

The  old  man  saw  her  embarrassment  and  smiled. 
"  Ah,  it  is  as  I  thought,  my  child.  But  there  is  no 
cause  to  blush.  If  your  brother  were  a  famous  vio- 
linist and  I  paid  half-a-guinea  for  a  stall  to  hear  him, 
you  would  not  think  he  had  lowered  himself  by  taking 
my  money  for  the  pleasure  he  gave  me.  Well,  I  had 
my  stall  up  here  on  the  third  floor !  there  is  a  conven- 
ient little  hole  in  the  blind  through  which  I  could 
peep  and  see  the  whole  proceedings." 

They  both  thanked  him  warmly,  and  were  about 
to  move  on,  when  the  strange  old  man  arrested  them. 

"  Stop  a  second,  my  poor  children.  You  must  be 
numbed  with  standing  so  long  in  that  frosty  air.  I 
have  a  good  fire  upstairs.  Come  and  warm  your- 
selves for  a  few  moments." 

His  voice  and  manner  were  compelling.  Wonder- 
ingly  they  obeyed,  although  at  the  moment,  they  were 
thinking  very  intently  of  their  supper.  Still,  the 
night  was  young  yet.  They  could  wait  a  little  longer 
to  make  their  purchases.  Plenty  of  shops  would  be 
open.  And  a  few  minutes  spent  at  a  bright  fire 
would  be  comfortable. 

He  opened  the  door  wide  as  they  entered  it  and 
closed  it  behind  him.  Then  he  skipped,  wonderfully 
nimbly  for  a  man  of  his  age,  in  front  of  them. 


12  THE  INTEIGUERS 

"'  Follow  Papa  Peron,  that  is  what  they  call  me 
in  these  parts,  where  I  have  lived  for  Heaven  knows 
how  many  years.  It  is  a  big  climb  and  I  don't  do 
it  as  easily  as  I  used.  But  to  children  like  you,  it 
is  a  hop  and  a  skip.     Follow  me." 

They  followed  him  up  the  old-fashioned  stair-case 
into  a  small  room,  where  a  roaring  fire  was  blazing. 
He  drew  forth  two  easy-chairs  and  motioned  to  them 
to  seat  themselves.  He  lighted  another  gas-jet  in 
their  honour.  He  looked  intently  at  their  white 
faces,  and  what  he  read  there  impelled  him  to  a  swift 
course  of  action. 

He  dived  into  a  small  sideboard.  In  a  moment, 
as  it  seemed  to  the  fascinated  watchers,  he  had  laid 
a  cloth  upon  the  small  and  rather  rickety  table,  ar- 
ranged knives  and  forks.  Then  he  produced  half  a 
fowl,  two  sorts  of  sausages,  half  a  ripe  Camembert 
cheese,  and  a  dish  of  tinned  fruit.  When  all  his 
preparations  were  complete,  he  beckoned  them  im- 
periously to  the  table.  He  spoke  in  short,  sharp  ac- 
cents, with  the  air  of  a  man  who  is  accustomed  to  be 
obeyed. 

"  At  once,  please !  You  are  famished  with  that 
dreary  standing  in  this  arctic  street,  and  it  will  be 
some  time  before  you  can  get  food.  Please  fall  in  at 
once." 

The  sharp  pangs  of  hunger  were  already  gnawing 
the  vitals  of  both  brother  and  sister,  the  tasty  viands 
were  inviting  enough ;  but  they  had  observed  the 
poorly  furnished  room.  Monsieur  Peron,  in  his 
small  fastidious  way,  seemed  to  have  an  air  of  dis- 
tinction,  but  his  clothes  were  well-worn,     Nobody 


THE  INTRIGUEES  13 

could  be  as  poor  as  themselves,  but  they  felt  sure 
this  kind-hearted  old  Frenchman  was  far  from  being 
well-off. 

Corsini  raised  a  protesting  hand.  "  Sir,  you  have 
been  kindness  itself  already.  You  have  warmed  us, 
and  we  are  very  grateful,  but  we  cannot  eat  you  out 
of  house  and  home." 

They  guessed  pretty  accurately  that  these  viands 
which  he  had  produced  with  such  abandon,  were 
meant  to  last  some  little  time.  The  average  French- 
man is  a  small  eater,  and  a  very  thrifty  person. 

Papa  Peron  beat  the  table  impetuously.  ''  Mon 
Dieu,  do  you  refuse  my  little  whim  ?  I  am  not  rich, 
I  admit.  One  does  not  lodge  on  the  third  floor  if  one 
is  a  millionaire.  That  is  understood.  But  I  can 
show  hospitality  when  I  choose.  To  table  at  once, 
my  children,  or  I  shall  be  seriously  displeased." 

The  old  gentleman,  in  spite  of  his  frail  appearance, 
was  very  masterful ;  it  was  impossible  to  resist  him. 
Obediently  they  sat  down,  but  their  native  politeness 
forbade  them  to  eat  very  much.  They  just  stayed 
their  appetites,  and  left  enough  to  satisfy  their  host 
for  a  couple  of  days  at  least.  In  vain  he  exhorted 
them  to  persevere.  Brother  and  sister  exchanged  a 
meaning  glance,  and  assured  their  host  that  they  had 
already  done  too  well. 

When  thev  had  finished  and  were  back  in  the  two 
easy-chairs,  basking  in  the  warmth  of  the  glowing 
fire,  the  old  Frenchman  went  to  a  little  cupboard  af- 
fixed to  the  wall.     On  his  face  was  a  sly  smile. 

From  this  receptacle  he  produced  a  bottle,  dusty 
with  age.     He  performed  some  strenuous  work  with 


14  THE  INTRIGUERS 

a  somewhat  refractory  corkscrew  whose  point  had  be- 
come blunt  with  the  years.  In  a  trice,  he  produced 
three  glasses  and  placed  them  on  a  small  table  which 
he  drew  close  to  the  fire. 

"  This  is  fine  Chambertin,"  he  explained  to  his  as- 
tonished guests.  "  A  dozen  bottles  were  sent  to  me 
by  an  old  friend,  since  dead,  three  years  ago.  In 
those  three  years  I  have  drunk  six  —  I  am  very  ab- 
stemious, my  children.  To-night,  in  your  honour,  I 
open  the  first  of  the  six  that  remain.  We  will  ca- 
rouse and  make  merry.  It  is  a  long  time  since  I 
have  felt  so  inclined  to  merriment." 

To  this  sally  they  could  make  no  retort ;  they  were 
still  in  state  of  bewilderment.  To  a  certain  extent 
they  felt  themselves  in  a  kind  of  shabby  fairyland. 
Was  this  strange  old  Frenchman  as  poor  as  appear- 
ances suggested  —  or  a  miser  with  occasional  freak- 
ish impulses  of  generosity? 

Papa  Peron  shot  at  them  a  shrewd  glance.  Per- 
haps he  divined  their  thoughts.  Long  experience 
had  made  him  very  wise,  possibly  a  little  bit  cunning. 

"  You  think  I  am  just  a  trifle  mad,  eh  ?  "  he  quer- 
ied. 

With  one  voice,  or  rather  two  voices  raised  in  a 
swift  unison,  they  disclaimed  the  insinuation.  They 
only  recognised  several  facts :  that  he  was  very  kind, 
very  generous,  very  hospitable. 

Papa  Peron  sipped  the  excellent  Chambertin  and 
fell  into  a  meditative  mood. 

"  I  lead  a  very  lonely  life,  and  youth,  especially 
struggling  youth,  has  a  great  attraction  for  me.  I 
watched  you  two  poor  children  to-night  through  the 


THE  INTRIGUERS  15 

i 
little  peep-hole  in  my  blind.  Mon  Dieu!  I  guessed 
the  position  at  once.  You  had  come  out  in  the  snow 
and  bitter  wind,  to  try  and  make  a  living.  You  are 
two  honest  people,  I  am  sure.  N'est-ce  pas?  "  They 
had  be^n  speaking  in  English  up  to  the  present  mo- 
ment, but  momentary  excitement,  the  stimulus  of  the 
Burgimdy,  had  made  him  indulge  in  his  native 
tongue. 

Thev  assured  him  that  thev  were. 

Papa  Peron  smiled  a  little  sardonically.  "  Of 
course  you  are.  If  you  were  inclined  in  other  direc- 
tions, you  with  your  talents,  your  sister  with  her  good 
looks,  would  have  taken  up  more  paying  trades  than 
this.  What  have  you  earned  to-night?"  he  con- 
cluded sharply. 

Anita  answered  in  a  faltering  voice.  "  Over  three 
shillings,  Monsieur." 

The  sardonic  smile  vanished.  A  look  of  infinite 
compassion  spread  over  the  lined  face. 

"  My  poor  children.  Virtue  is  indeed  its  own  re- 
ward." He  turned  to  Xello,  and  his  eyes  flashed  fire. 
"  And  that  charlatan,  Bauquel,  gets  a  hundred 
guineas  for  a  single  performance.  And  he  is  not 
in  the  same  street  with  you." 

''  But  Bauquel  is  a  genius,  surely,  Monsieur  ?  "  ven- 
tured Corsini  deferentially.  "  I  have  never  heard 
him  play,  certainly,  but  his  reputation!  Surely  he 
did  not  get  that  for  nothing?  " 

He  spoke  very  cautiously,  for  although  he  had 
not  known  Papa  Peron  for  very  long,  he  had  recog- 
nised that  under  that  kindly  and  polite  demeanour  was 
a  very  peppery  temperament.     If  he  were  crossed  in 


16  THE  INTRIGUERS 

argument,  the  old  Erenchman  might  prove  a  very 
cantankerous  person. 

Peron  snapped  his  fingers.  "  Banquel,  bah  !  A 
man  of  the  Schools,  a  machine-made  executant.  He 
never  half  understands  what  he  attempts  to  render." 
Again  he  snapped  his  contemptuous  fingers.  "  Bau- 
quel,  bah !  A  charlatan  ?  It  amazes  me  that  the 
public  runs  after  him.  He  has  a  powerful  press,  and 
he  employs  a  big  claque.  Voilal  On  the  business^ 
side,  I  admit  he  is  great;  on  the  artistic  side,  not 
worth  a  moment's  consideration." 

"  You  understand  music.  Monsieur,  you  are  a 
critic  ?  "  suggested  the  young  man  timidly.  Papa 
Peron  was  evidently  a  very  explosive  person ;  it 
would  not  be  polite  or  grateful  to  risk  his  anger. 

Eor  a  little  time  the  old  man  did  not  answer. 
When  he  spoke,  it  was  in  a  dreamy  tone. 

"  Once  I  was  famous  as  Bauquel  is  to-day — with 
this  difference:  that  I  was  an  artist  and  he  is  a  pre- 
tender, with  not  an  ounce  of  artistry  in  him." 

"  Was  your  instrument  the  violin.  Monsieur?  " 

"  Alas,  no,"  was  the  old  man's  answer.  "  Chance 
led  me  to  the  piano.  I  think  I  did  well.  But  I 
have  always  regretted  that  I  did  not  take  up  the 
violin.  It  is  the  one  instrument  that  can  sing.  The 
human  voice  alone  rivals  it." 

After  a  moment's  pause,  he  added  abruptly,  "  Are 
you  very  tired  ?  " 

IS^o,  Corsini  was  not  in  the  least  tired.  The 
warmth,  the  meal  of  which  he  had  eaten  sparingly 
from  motives  of  delicacy,  the  Burgundy,  had  warmed 
his  blood.     He  was  no  longer  the  weak,  pallid  crea- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  17 

ture  who  had  set  out  from  his  lodging  to  earn  a 
night's  sustenance. 

"  Why  do  you  ask,  Monsieur  'i  " 

"  If  you  are  not  really  tired,  I  would  love  to  hear 
that  exquisite  romance  again,  with  one  or  two  bril- 
liant variations.  See,  in  that  corner,  stands  a  piano 
of  fairly  good  tone.  I  will  accompany  you,  or  rather 
follow  you." 

Corsini,  his  blood  aglow  with  the  generous  stimu- 
lant, the  strange  circumstances,  rose  up,  took  his 
violin  from  its  case,  and  drew  the  bow  lovingly  acrosa 
the  strings.  The  Frenchman  went  across  to  the 
piano,  opened  the  lid,  and  struck  a  few  chords  with 
a  touch  that  revealed  the  hand  of  the  master. 

For  the  next  ten  minutes  the  room  resounded  with 
the  divinest  melody.  The  deep  notes  of  the  piano 
mingled  with  the  soaring  strains  of  the  violin. 

Corsini,  strangely  inspired,  played  as  one  pos- 
sessed. And  Papa  Peron  caught  every  inflection, 
every  subtle  change  of  key.  Never,  during  the  brief 
performance,  was  there  a  single  discord.  All  the 
time  the  Frenchman,  old  in  years,  had  followed  every 
mood  of  the  younger  musician. 

Papa  Peron  dropped  his  slender,  artistic  hands  on 
the  last  chord.  "  My  young  friend,  you  are  great," 
he  said  quietly.  "  Success  to  you  is  only  a  matter  of 
time.     Another  glass  of  Chambcrtin  ?  " 

Nello  drained  it;  he  felt  strangely  elated.  "Ah, 
Monsieur,  but  your  accompaniment  was  half  the  bat- 
tle. When  I  faltered,  you  stimulated  me.  You 
must  have  been  a  magnificent  pianist." 

Anita  broke  in  in  her  gentle  voice.     The  daughter 


18  THE  INTEIGUERS 

of  an  English  mother,  she  spoke  the  tongue  of  her 
adopted  country  very  fluently. 

"  You  put  great  heart  into  us,  Monsieur.  But 
when  you  speak  of  success,  I  remember  that  we  have 
earned  just  about  three  shillings  to-night." 

Peron,  the  optimist,  waved  his  hand  airily. 
"  Look  up  to  the  stars,  my  child,  and  hope.  I  have 
a  little  influence  left  yet.  Perhaps  I  can  put  you  on 
the  right  track ;  take  you  at  least  out  of  these  miser- 
able streets.  Sit  down  for  another  ten  minutes; 
make  a  second  supper  if  you  like."  He  guessed  that 
they  had  not  fully  satisfied  their  hunger. 

But  this  they  resolutely  declined.  He  waved  them 
to  their  chairs. 

"  Five  minutes,  then.  Tell  me  a  little  something 
of  your  history.     I  am  sure  it  has  been  a  tragic  one." 

And  Corsini,  departing  from  his  usual  mood  of 
reticence,  imparted  to  the  old  Frenchman  the  details 
of  his  career. 

His  father,  the  elder  Corsini,  had  been  first  violin 
at  the  Politeama  Theatre  in  Florence,  while  compar- 
atively a  young  man.  He  had  quarrelled  violently 
with  the  manager  and  been  dismissed.  Confident  in 
his  ability,  he  had  come  over  to  England  to  seek  his 
fortune  afresh.  Here  he  had  met  and  fallen  vio- 
lently in  love  with,  a  young  English  girl,  some  few 
years  his  junior.  She  was  a  pianist  by  profession,  in 
a  small  way.  She  attended  at  dances,  played  accom- 
paniments at  City  dinners.  Her  income  was  a  very 
meagre  one.  She  was  the  product  of  one  of  the  nu- 
merous schools  that  turn  out  such  performers  by  the 
dozen. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  19 

Thev  married,  and  Corsini  soon  discovered  tiiat 
he  was  not  the  great  man  he  imagined  himself  to  be. 
Also,  he  was  of  a  frail  and  weaklv  constitution.  Ten 
years  after  his  marriage  he  died  of  rapid  consump- 
tion. ]VIadame  Corsini  was  left  with  two  children  on 
her  hands. 

She  was  a  devoted  mother.  Xello  dwelt  on  this 
episode  of  their  sad  life  with  tears  in  his  eyes.  She 
worked  hard  for  a  miserable  pittance ;  and  then  she 
was  worn  out  with  the  strain.  Xello  and  his  sister, 
Anita,  were  left  orphans.  Xello  had  been  taught  the 
rudiments  of  the  violin  by  his  father ;  all  the  rest  he 
had  picked  up  himself. 

After  his  mother's  death  the  rest  was  a  nightmare. 
He  had  done  his  best  for  himself  and  his  sister. 
That  best  had  landed  them  in  this  snow-laden  street 
to-night. 

Papa  Peron  listened  quietly  to  this  young  violin- 
ist's recital,  but  he  made  little  comment.  Here  was 
one  of  the  numerous  tragedies  that  were  occurring 
every  day  in  every  populous  city. 

He  rose  and  shook  hands  with  the  two.  "  You  have 
a  lodging  to  go  to,  my  poor  children  ?  "  he  asked  anx- 
iously. 

With  a  deep  blush,  Corsini  assured  him  that  they 
had  a  lodging  to  go  to ;  he  did  not  dare  to  give  him  the 
address.  Dean  Street  was  a  comparatively  aristo- 
cratic abode.  Papa  Peron's  humbly  furnished  room 
seemed  a  Paradise.  And  the  piano  was  good  —  that 
must  have  been  saved  from  the  prosperous  days  — 
and  was  his  own.  No  Soho  landlady  w'ould  provide 
such  a  piano  as  that. 


20  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Peron  shook  them  warmly  by  the  hand.  "  You 
must  come  and  see  me  to-morrow.  I  shall  be  in  all 
the  morning.  I  shall  think  things  over  between  now 
and  then.  I  am  a  poor  man  myself,  but  I  may  be 
able  to  help  you  with  introductions.  I  must  get  you 
out  of  these  miserable  streets." 

They  walked  home,  wondering  about  Papa  Peron. 
Who  could  he  be  ?  Anita  inclined  to  the  belief  that 
he  was  a  miser.     ITello  had  his  doubts. 

Still  very  hungry,  they  bought  some  sausages  on 
their  way  home  and  devoured  them  before  they  went 
to  bed.  They  still  had  a  substantial  balance  on  hand, 
according  te  the  thriftv  Anita. 

And  the  next  morning,  iN^ello  was  round  at  Dean 
Street  to  learn  what  Papa  Peron  had  thought  of  in 
the  meanwhile. 


CHAPTER  II 

The  old  Frencliman  had  heard  Corsini's  knock  at 
the  door.  He  stood  at  the  entrance  to  his  shabby 
sitting-room,  the  only  article  of  furniture  being  the 
piano,  his  kind  old  lined  face  illumined  with  smiles. 

"  Courage,  my  young  friend.  I  did  not  sleep  very 
well  after  the  excitement  of  your  visit.  Inspiration 
came  to  me  in  the  middle  of  the  night.  You  see  that 
letter  ? "  He  pointed  to  a  small  desk  standing 
against  the  wall.  "  Go  and  see  to  whom  it  is  ad- 
dressed." 

Nello  obeyed  him.  His  eyes  sparkled  as  he  read 
the  name  on  the  envelope.  "  Mr.  Gay,  the  leader  of 
the  orchestra  at  the  Parthenon." 

Papa  Peron  nodded  his  leonine  head,  bristling  with 
its  snow-white  locks.  "  A  friend  of  mine.  He  is  a 
composer  as  well  as  chef  d'orchestre.  I  have  cor- 
rected many  of  his  proof  sheets  for  a  firm  I  work 
for." 

Corsini  pricked  up  his  ears  at  this  statement.  He 
and  his  sister  had  been  curious  as  to  the  old  man's 
profession.  The  mystery  was  solved.  He  was  no 
miser,  no  millionaire,  just  a  music  publisher's  hack. 
And  once,  according  to  his  own  statement,  he  had 
been  a  famous  pianist,  with  a  renown  equal  to  that  of 
Ban  quel. 

"  I  have  ajaked  him  to  give  you  the  first  vacancy  in 

21 


22  THE  INTKIGUERS 

his  orchestra.  He  will  do  it  to  oblige  me,  for  I  have 
helped  him  a  little  —  given  him  some  ideas.  It  is 
one  of  the  best  theatre  orchestras  in  London.  The 
pay,  alas !  will  not  be  good,  but  it  will  take  you  out  of 
those  miserable  streets.  Go  to  his  private  address 
this  morning ;  I  am  sure  he  will  see  you  at  once." 

"  How  can  I  thank  you  ?  "  began  the  young  man ; 
but  Peron  stopped  him  with  an  imperious  wave  of 
his  long,  thin  hand. 

"  Tut,  tut,  my  child !  I  want  no  thanks.  I  have 
taken  a  fancy  to  you  and  that  dear  little  sister  of 
yours.  ISTow,  listen;  I  have  another  scheme  on 
hand." 

Rapidly  the  genial  old  man  unfolded  his  plans. 

"  In  my  room  there  are  two  beds.  The  landlady 
has  a  little  attic  to  let,  by  no  means  a  grand  apart- 
ment, but  it  will  serve  for  your  sister.  You  can 
share  my  room.  Three  people  can  live  almost  as 
cheaply  as  two."  There  was  a  knowing  smile  on  the 
wrinkled  face,  as  the  genial  Papa  enunciated  this 
profound  economic  truth.  "  Come  and  live  here. 
You  can  practise  on  the  violin  while  I  play  your  ac- 
companiments." 

"  But  Monsieur,  at  the  moment,  we  have  no 
money,  "  stammered  the  embarrassed  violinist. 
"  Mr.  Gay  may  not  have  a  vacancy  for  some  little 
time." 

Papa  Peron  frowned  ever  so  little.  He  did  not 
easilv  brook  contradiction.  "  You  are  makino;  dif- 
Acuities  where  none  exist.  You  must  lodge  some- 
where. My  landlady  only  asks  five  shillings  a  week 
for  the  attic.     You  share  my  bedroom  and  sitting- 


THE  INTEIGUERS  23 

room.  As  for  the  food,  you  will  be  my  guests  till  you 
earn  something.  Do  not  say  me  nay,"  he  ended 
fiercely.  *'  I  am  resolved  that  you  shall  play  no  more 
in  those  miserable  gutters.  It  is  finished.  You 
come  here  to-night." 

There  was  no  resisting  this  imperious  old  man  with 
the  frail  figure  and  the  snow-white  abundant  hair. 
ISTello  promised  that  he  and  his  sister  would  move  into 
Dean  Street  that  afternoon.  In  the  meantime,  he 
would  take  the  letter  of  introduction  to  Mr.  Gay,  who 
had  lodgings  in  Gower  Street,  no  great  distance. 

Mr.  Gay  was  a  fat,  rubicund  man  with  a  somewhat 
faded  and  slatternly  wife.  He  read  Peron's  note  and 
a  genial  smile  lit  up  his  massive  face. 

"  Good !  "  he  cried  heartily.  "  My  old  friend 
vouches  for  you,  and  you  have  come  in  the  very  nick 
of  time.  One  of  my  men  is  leaving  in  a  couple  of 
days  —  got  a  better  berth.  You  can  take  his  place. 
But  before  we  settle,  you  may  as  well  give  me  a  taste 
of  your  quality.  We  go  in  for  rather  high-class 
music  at  the  Parthenon.  Play  me  Gounod's  '  Ave 
Maria,'  I  always  test  a  man  with  that." 

He  called  to  the  slatternly  woman  who  was  crouch- 
ing over  the  fire.  "  Ada,  please  go  to  the  piano  and 
play  the  accompaniment  for  this  young  man." 

Mrs.  Gay  complied  with  the  request.  Nello 
played  the  beautiful  piece  with  all  his  soul.  Gay 
listened,  attentively.  When  it  was  finished,  he  ap- 
plauded loudly. 

"  By  Jove,  you  are  great !  Peron  was  right.  He 
has  not  exaggerated.     You  have  had  no  chance,  eh  ?  " 

Xello  stammered  that  he  had  had  no  chances.     He 


24  THE  INTRIGUEKS 

did  not  dare  confess  to  this  prosperous  person,  com- 
poser as  well  as  conductor  of  an  orchestra,  that, 
lately,  he  had  been  playing  in  the  streets  for  a  living 
to  pay  for  his  miserable  lodging  and  scanty  food. 

They  arranged  tenns  with  many  apologies  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Gay. 

"  It  is  an  insnlt  to  a  man  of  your  talent  to  offer 
such  a  miserable  pittance.  But  my  hands  are  tied, 
and  tied  very  strictly,  I  can  tell  you.  Turn  up  at 
the  Parthenon  on  Friday  night;  you  will  soon  get 
something  better.     You  can  read  music  quickly  ?  " 

Nello  assured  him  on  that  point.  He  could  read 
music  aB  easily  as  his  newspaper.  The  terms  which 
Mr.  Gay  offered  him  were  riches  compared  to  the  few 
coppers  he  had  earned  in  the  streets. 

That  same  afternoon  he  and  the  joyful  Anita  pr^ 
8ented  themselves  in  Dean  Street,  with  their  few  be- 
longings. Papa  Peron  furnished  a  royal  supper  and 
broached  another  bottle  of  the  very  excellent  Cham- 
be  rtin. 

There  was,  however,  still  the  question  of  clothes. 
Nello  had  nothing  but  what  he  stood  up  in,  and  the 
Parthenon  was  a  very  swagger  theatre.  Peron  was 
equal  to  the  emergency.  He  took  the  young  man 
round  to  a  neighbouring  costumier's,  and  secured  a 
dress-suit  on  the  hire-purchase  system,  at  a  very  small 
outlay  of  ready  money  which  he  advanced.  For,  al- 
though the  good  Papa  was  not  rich,  he  was  very 
thrifty,  and  usually  had  a  shot  in  the  locker. 

It  was  a  very  happy  menage ;  the  old  Frenchman 
was  kindness   and  geniality  itself.     He   seemed  to 


THE  INTRIGUERS  25 

grow  younger  in  the  society  of  his  youthful  friends. 

And  in  time  the  mystery  that  had  seemed  to  sur- 
round him  vanished,  his  means  of  livelihood  became 
revealed.  He  was  on  the  staff  of  a  couple  of  big 
music  publishers-  He  corrected  their  proof  sheets, 
he  occasionally  advised  on  compositions  of  budding 
composers ;  but  needless  to  say,  at  this  hack  work  his 
remuneration  was  very  modest. 

But  he  always  appeared  cheerful  and  resigned. 
He  would  drop  fragmentary  hints  of  a  brilliant  past, 
when  money  flowed  like  water,  when  he  had  mixed 
with  illustrious  personages.  But  he  could  never  be 
induced  to  dwell  very  long  on  this  period,  would  en- 
ter into  no  convincing  details. 

"  It  is  gone,  it  is  a  feverish  dream,"  he  would  say 
with  a  somewhat  theatrical  wave  of  the  hand.  It 
was  evidently  a  weakness  of  his  to  enshroud  himself 
in  an  air  of  romance  and  mystery.  "  What  does  it 
matter  who  and  what  I  was?  To-day  I  am  Papa 
Peron,  music  publisher's  hack,  earning  a  few  shillings 
a  week  at  a  most  uncongenial  occupation-  But,  at 
my  age,  I  want  little." 

Nello  and  his  sister  were  happy  too.  The  salary 
at  the  Parthenon  was  not  magnificent,  but  it  was  a 
certainty,  and  they  were  frugal  young  people.  ISTo 
more  playing  in  the  sleet-driven  streets,  no  more  ter- 
rible uncertainty  as  to  the  night's  lodging  and  the 
next  day's  meal. 

For  a  month  they  pursued  this  humble,  but  not  un- 
comfortable life.  And  Nello,  who  had  no  oppor- 
tunity of  displaying  his  talent  in  this  big  orchestra, 


26  THE  INTRIGUEES 

where  he  was  one  of  many,  played  two  or  three  hours 
a  day  to  the  brilliant  accompaniment  of  the  old 
Frenchman. 

And  then  the  clouds  began  to  gather.  Papa  Peron 
was  taken  with  a  severe  attack  of  bronchitis.  Racked 
in  spasms  of  severe  coughing,  he  was  unable  to  pur- 
sue his  humble  and  not  too  remunerative  occupation. 
He  could  no  longer  correct  the  proof  sheets.  The 
doctor's  visits,  the  necessity  of  extra  and  expensive 
nourishment,  began  to  eat  up  his  slender  store.  The 
few  sovereigns  he  had  hoarded  for  a  rainy  day  began 
to  melt  rapidly. 

This  did  not  matter  much  for  a  while.  The  regu- 
lar salary  at  the  Parthenon  sufficed,  with  Anita's  skil- 
ful management,  for  the  three ;  but  there  was  no 
longer  any  question  of  putting  by.  Anita  knew  now 
that  she  had  been  very  mistaken  in  thinking  the  poor 
old  Papa  was  a  miser.  With  tears  in  his  poor  old 
eyes,  he  had  been  forced  to  confess  that  he  had  come 
to  his  last  sovereign. 

And  Anita  had  cried  too.  "  What  does  it  mat- 
ter, dear  Papa  ?  "  she  said.  She  had  grown  very 
fond  of  the  kind  old  man.  "  You  took  us  in  when 
we  were  poor  and  friendless,  l^ello  will  work  for 
you  now,  and  I  shall  be  very  careful.  You  will  see 
how  well  I  can  manage  on  a  little." 

And  so  good  old  Papa  Peron  had  his  beef-tea,  his 
little  drops  of  brandy,  his  expensive  chicken.  Who- 
ever went  without,  he  must  not  experience  want. 
And  the  doctor  Avas  paid  punctually. 

But  misfortunes  never  come  single.  One  very 
frosty  night,  on  coming  out  of  the  Parthenon,  Nello 


THE  INTEIGUERS  27 

fell  on  the  slippery  pavement  and  seriously  hurt  his 
left  hand,  lie  went  to  the  doctor  on  his  way  home, 
and  his  worst  fears  were  confii-med. 

"  A  longish  job,  I  fear,  Signor  Corsini.  The  fin- 
gers are  very  much  injured,  and  so  is  the  arm.  You 
are  a  musician,  are  you  not  ?  " 

"  A  violinist,  sir.  If  it  had  been  the  right  arm 
instead  of  the  left,  I  might  have  managed  with  the 
bow.     But  I  cannot  play  a  note." 

Mr.  Gay  was  informed  of  the  accident,  in  a  letter 
from  Anita.  He  was  genuinely  sorry,  but  the  thea- 
tre had  to  be  served.  He  had  to  procure  another  vio- 
linist at  once.  For  four  miserable  weeks  iSTello  ate 
his  heart  out,  and  Papa  Peron  seemed  to  grow  weaker 
every  day. 

When  life  and  motion  returned  to  the  poor  dam- 
aged fingers,  there  were  only  a  few  shillings  left  in 
the  house.  Peron  had  announced  that  if  help  did 
not  come  soon  they  must  sell  the  piano,  the  one  bit  of 
property  he  owned  in  the  world.  So,  at  least,  he 
averred. 

Nello  could  play  now.  He  went  round  at  once  to 
Gay's  lodging  in  Gowcr  Street.  Could  he  be  taken 
on  again  ?  The  kindly  conductor  hemmed  and 
hawed ;  he  was  obviously  very  much  embarrassed. 

"  We  had  to  fill  up  your  place,  my  dear  chap,  and 
the  new  man  has  proved  quite  satisfactory.  It  is,  of 
course,  awfully  hard  on  you.  But,  you  see,  I  can't 
sack  him  to  put  you  in  his  place." 

"  Of  course  not,"  answered  IN'ello  quietly.  Misery 
was  gnawing  at  his  heart,  but  he  was  just.  The  man 
who  was  taken  on  had  possibly  been  in  the  same  state 


28  THE  INTKIGUEKS 

of  wretchedness  as  himself.     He  would  hardly  have 
cared  to  turn  him  out,  if  Gay  had  been  willing. 

"  And  how  is  the  dear  old  Papa  ?  "  asked  Gay, 
trying  to  relieve  an  awkward  situation  with  the  in- 
quiry. 

"  He  is  very  ill ;  not  far  from  death,  I  fear,"  was 
Kello's  answer.  And  then  the  truth,  which  he  could 
no  longer  conceal,  flashed  out.  "  And  very  soon  he 
will  be  close  to  starvation." 

Gay  looked  shocked.  He  had  experienced  his  ups 
and  downs,  but  he  had  never  been  in  such  a  tight  cor- 
ner as  this.  He  fumbled  in  his  waistcoat  pocket  and 
produced  a  sovereign,  which  he  thrust  into  the  other 
man's  hand. 

"  Terrible,  terrible!  I  ami  sorry  I  cannot  do 
more ;  but  I  am  a  poor  man,  too." 

Nello  took  it,  but  his  face  burned,  it  was  such  obvi- 
ous charity. 

"  I  accept  it,  Monsieur,  with  gratitude,  and  I  thank 
you  for  the  kind  thought.  But  can  you  help  me  to 
find  work  ?     I  want  to  earn  money,  not  to  beg  it." 

"  Sit  down  a  moment  while  I  think,"  The  kind- 
hearted  conductor  was  very  distressed  himself  at  the 
piteous  state  of  affairs. 

"  I  have  it,"  he  exclaimed  after  a  few  moments  of 
reflection.     "  You  have  heard  of  Paul  Degraux  ?  " 

"  One  of  the  directors  of  the  Covent  Garden 
Opera  ?  " 

"  Right,"  said  Gay.  "  Well,  Degraux  is  a  big 
man  now,  but  twenty-five  years  ago  we  were  playing 
in  the  same  orchestra  for  a  few  shillings  a  week.  He 
is  there,  I  am  here.     We  have  never  quite  lost  sight 


THE  INTRIGUERS  29 

of  each  other,  and  I  think  he  would  always  do  me  a 
good  turn  if  it  was  in  his  power.  I  will  give  you  a 
note  to  him.  Take  it  round  to  him  this  morning. 
You  will  find  him  at  the  theatre." 

Ten  minutes  later,  Corsini  was  on  his  way  to  the 
great  man.  Gay  had  written  a  most  glowing  and 
eulogistic  introduction. 

"  The  bearer  of  this  note,  Signer  ISTello  Corsini,  is 
a  most  accomplished  violinist.  I  have  had  him  in 
my  orchestra,  but  he  is  too  good  for  that.  Give  him  a 
chance  at  one  of  your  concerts  and  he  will  make  good. 
You  know  my  judgment  is  generally  pretty  accurate. 
Give  him  a  helping  hand  and  you  will  not  regret  it." 


CHAPTEK  III 

The  name  of  Gay  seemed  one  to  conjure  with. 
Five  minutes  after  the  letter  had  been  taken  in,  I^ello 
was  shown  in  to  Monsieur  Degraux's  private  room. 

He  was  a  tall,  handsome  man,  this  musical  director 
of  the  opera  who,  twenty-five  years  ago,  had  played 
in  a  small  orchestra  for  a  few  shillings  a  week.  His 
countenance  was  florid,  he  had  a  very  striking  per- 
sonality. Emphatically  he  was  the  type  of  man  who 
gets  on,  who  shoulders  his  way  in  the  world,  pushing 
aside  with  his  strong,  resolute  elbows  his  weaker  and 
more  timorous  fellow  creatures. 

He  was  always  urbane,  even  when  he  had  to  say 
No.  At  the  present  moment  he  had  not  decided  as 
to  whether  he  would  say  Yes  or  'No  to  his  old  friend's 
request.  He  was  very  much  taken  with  the  appear- 
ance of  the  slim,  handsome  young  Italian.  His 
clothes  were  certainly  shabby:  Degraux's  experienced 
eyes  took  in  that  fact  at  once ;  but  there  was  a  certain 
resolution  in  hello's  bearing,  a  brightness  and  ani- 
mation in  his  face,  that  showed  he  was  no  ordinary 
seeker  for  favours. 

"  Sit  down,  sit  down,"  he  said  genially,  "  although 

I  cannot  give  you  very  long.     I  am  a  very  busy  man ; 

all  the  day  and  half  the  night  I  have  to  cut  myself 

into  pieces,  as  it  were.     And  always,  I  am  frightfully 

worried.     To-day  I  have  been  more  worried  than 

usual." 

30 


THE  INTEIGUERS  31 

"  I  am  sorry  to  hear  it,  Monsieur,"  said  the  Italian, 
sympathetically.  If  he  wanted  to  get  anything  out 
of  Monsieur  Degraux,  he  must  fall  in  with  his  moods. 
Privately  he  thought  the  director's  worries,  whatever 
their  magnitude,  were  as  nothing  compared  to  his 
own. 

This  plump,  prosperous-looking  person  was  not 
very  close  to  star\'-ation. 

"  You  know,  of  course,  the  name  of  Bauquel  ?  " 
inquired  Degraux  abruptly. 

"  A  great  genius,  Monsieur."  In  spite  of  Papa 
Peron's  hostile  verdict,  the  younger  musician  had  a 
great  reverence  for  the  celebrated  violinist,  who  was 
a  popular  favourite  in  every  European  capital. 

The  director  snapped  his  fingers,  and  indulged  in 
an  angry  exclamation.  "  ISTot  the  genius  that  he 
thinks  himself,  not  the  genius  his  friends  pretend  he 
is.  He  is  very  astute  on  the  business  side,  has  worked 
his  Press  well,  and  always  maintains  a  vigilant 
claque.  I  and  people  like  myself  have  helped  him 
very  considerably  also  by  taking  him  at  his  face  valu- 
ation. Genius,  certainly  not ;  at  any  rate,  not  a  great 
genius." 

Monsieur  Degraux  snapped  his  fingers  more  con- 
temptuously, and  reeled  off  the  names  of  a  few  rivals. 
"  Those  are  geniuses  if  you  like,  artists  who  disclaim 
his  clap-trap  methods." 

Nello  felt  uncomfortable  and  apprehensive.  The 
irate  director  was  evidently  so  occupied  with  the  sub- 
ject of  the  offending  Bauquel  that  Mr.  Gay's  letter 
stood  in  danger  of  being  forgotten.  And  the  great 
man  had  especially  said  that  his  time  was  short. 


32  THE  INTRIGUEES 

"  Monsieur  Bauquel  has  had  the  misfortune  to 
incur  your  displeasure,  sir  ?  "  he  hazarded.   ' 

"  I  should  think  he  had,"  cried  Degraux  furi- 
ously. "  He  was  to  appear  at  my  great  concert  next 
week ;  Royalty  and  the  elite  of  London  will  be  there. 
Two  days  ago  we  had  a  little  tiff,  in  which  I  admit  I 
told  him  some  home  truths.  What  happens  ?  This 
morning  I  receive  a  letter,  dated  from  Brighton,  in 
which  he  throws  me  over.  Pretends  he  is  ill  and  that 
his  doctor  has  ordered  a  complete  rest." 

"  And  you  do  not  believe  this  to  be  true.  Mon- 
sieur? " 

"  True  !  "  thundered  Degraux.  "  An  absolute  lie. 
A  friend  of  mine  writes  me  at  the  same  time  from 
the  Grand  Hotel.  He  tells  me  that  the  so-called  in- 
valid is  staying  there  with  a  rowdy  party  and  looking 
the  picture  of  health.  The  scoundrel  has  done  it  to 
put  me  in  a  comer.  And  what  is  to  become  of  my 
concert  ?  I  cannot  put  my  hand  on  a  violinist  of  the 
first  rank  in  the  few  days  left  me." 

Nello  stood  up,  his  face  glowing,  his  limbs  trem- 
bling with  excitement.  He  pointed  to  Gay's  letter, 
which  lay  on  the  director's  desk. 

"  Monsieur,  I  beseech  you,  if  it  is  not  too  great 
presumption,  to  let  me  take  his  place.  I  may  not 
make  a  sensation,  but  certainly  I  shall  not  be  a  fail- 
ure. And  you  will  have  so  many  stars  of  the  first 
magnitude,  that  a  smaller  one  may  dare  to  give  a 
little  light.  You  have  read  what  Mr.  Gay  says  of 
me.  I  fancy  he  is  no  mean  judge  of  music  and 
musicians." 

Degraux   was   suddenly   brought   down   from  his 


THE  INTRIGUERS  33 

heights  of  indignation  by  this  direct  appeal.  He 
looked  keenly  at  the  young  man,  but  in  his  eyes  there 
appeared  a  humorous  twinkle,  as  if  he  admired  his 
audacity. 

"  You  don't  miss  a  chance,  I  see,  my  young  friend. 
But  it  is  a  big  risk  to  run  you  in  the  place  of  Bauquel, 
and  as  soon  as  he  gets  wind  of  it,  he  will  send  his 
claque  to  hiss  you." 

Monsieur  Degraux  thought  for  several  seconds,  and 
the  young  man  went  hot  and  cold.  His  hopes,  his 
fate,  hung  upon  the  conductor's  caprice. 

Degraux  touched  a  bell  on  the  desk  with  the  air 
of  a  man  who  had  made  up  his  mind.  An  attendant 
answered  the  summons. 

"  Please  send  in  Mr.  Lemoin."  He  turned  to 
Nello.  "  This  gentleman  will  accompany  you,  and 
you  shall  show  what  you  can  do.  Remember,  you 
will  appear  before  one  of  the  most  appreciative,  but 
also  one  of  the  most  critical,  audiences  in  the  world." 

Monsieur  Lemoin  appeared,  a  fat  chubby  person. 
Ho  accompanied  very  well ;  not  perhaps  with  the  as- 
sured artistic  instinct  of  old  Papa  Peron,  who  was  a 
part  of  the  piano  he  played  so  skilfully. 

Degraux  listened  intently.  He  had  told  Nello  to 
play  the  pieces  which,  in  his  own  opinion,  he  could 
render  best.  The  young  man  finished  with  that  sad 
little  romance  which  he  had  heard  in  Dean  Street  on 
that  well-remembered  night,  and  into  which  he  wove 
some  brilliant  variations. 

The  director  rose  and  spoke,  for  him,  rather  en- 
thusiastically. "  Yes,  my  young  friend,  Gay  is  right. 
You  are  a  true  artist.     Play  that  little  romance  at 


34  THE  INTRIGUERS 

the  end ;  you  are  at  your  best  in  that.  Play  it  as  you 
have  done  here  and  we  need  not  fear  Bauquel's  claque. 
I  engage  you  for  that  concert.  I  will  also  boom  you, 
but  not  extravagantly  —  just  judiciously  —  in  the 
short  time  that  is  left  me.     Now  about  terms  ?  " 

He  named  a  fee  that  seemed  to  Corsini  to  repre- 
sent absolute  wealth.  If  he  could  only  obtain  a  cou- 
ple of  sovereigns  on  account,  to  ease  the  hard  condi- 
tions in  Dean  Street.  Degraux  did  not  seem  a  hard 
man ;  it  was  possible  the  request  would  be  granted  as 
soon  as  asked. 

But  pnidence  forbade.  It  would  be  the  reverse  of 
politic  to  plead  absolute  poverty  on  so  brief  an  ac- 
quaintance. Till  next  week,  they  must  draw  their 
belts  a  little  tighter.  Well,  experience  had  taught 
them  to  do  that. 

He  hurried  back  to  Dean  Street  with  the  joyful 
news.  He  was  to  appear  before  a  most  fashionable 
audience  in  place  of  the  great  Bauquel,  squandering 
his  money  down  at  Brighton  in  order  to  revenge  him- 
self upon  the  too  plain-speaking  Degraux. 

Papa  Peron  was  sitting  up  in  bed,  Anita  by  his 
side.  The  poor  old  man  had  had  one  of  his  good 
days,  the  cough  was  less  troublesome.  The  doctor 
had  whispered  as  he  went  out  that  if  the  severe 
weather  mended  a  little,  they  might  pull  him  through. 
He  smiled  happily  as  his  young  protege  recounted 
what  had  happened. 

"  I  have  met  Degraux  once  or  twice  in  the  years 
gone  by,  and  I  have  been  told  that  prosperity  has  not 
spoiled  him.  But,  my  dear  boy,  there  is  one  little 
difficulty  about  that  concert  next  week." 


THE  INTRIGUERS  35 

"  And  that  ?  "  asked  young  Corsini.  He  was  so 
overjoyed  in  his  new-found  fortune,  that  he  could 
think  of  nothing  else. 

The  old  Frenchman  chuckled  quietly.  "  You  will 
want  an  evening  suit,  my  young  friend.  One  does 
not  appear  before  Royalty  in  ordinary  clothes,  and 
those  not  of  the  newest,  does  one  ?  " 

Nello  groaned.  The  dress-clothes  which  Papa 
Peron  had  purchased  for  the  engagement  at  the  Par- 
thenon had  found  their  way  to  the  pawn-brokers  a 
few  da^'^s  ago,  to  provide  food.  Wliat  a  fool  he  had 
been  not  to  make  a  clean  breast  of  it  to  Degraux  and 
ask  for  a  few  pounds  in  advance ! 

"  It  crossed  my  mind  to  ask  for  a  loan,  and  I  was 
afraid  I  might  offend  him,"  explained  the  young  man. 

"  Quite  right,  my  dear  son,  quite  right.  Those 
wealthy  men  are  peculiar.  We  will  not  trouble  this 
rich  gentleman.     There  are  other  ways." 

He  pointed  his  thin  hand  to  a  little  cupboard 
standing  against  the  wall.  "  Go  and  open  the  door. 
Within  I  have  a  small  private  box  where  I  keep  my 
papers.     Bring  it  to  me,  please." 

Nello  obeyed,  and  carried  to  him  a  beautiful  little 
antique  casket  of  ebony,  inlaid  with  tortoise-shell 
and  silver,  with  some  cipher  letters  on  the  lid.  The 
old  man  opened  it  with  a  key  which  he  wore  attached 
to  a  ribbon  round  his  neck. 

From  the  small  box  he  carefully  produced  an  an- 
tique ring  with  a  tiny  miniature  portrait,  exquisitely 
painted  and  set  with  diamonds.  This  he  pressed 
reverently  to  his  lips,  and  then  handed  it  to  the 
young  man,  saying : 


36  THE  INTEIGUEES 

"  This  is  the  likeness  of  mj. honoured  Master,  my 
Emperor  ^Napoleon  the  Third  —  given  to  me  with 
his  own  hand." 

He  took  out  a  jewelled  star,  all  tarnished.  "  This 
is  the  Order  of  the  Chevalier  of  St.  Louis,  bestowed 
upon  me  for  my  services  to "  He  could  not  fin- 
ish his  sentence ;  the  tears  were  rolling  down  his  thin, 
wasted  cheeks. 

Brother  and  sister  exchanged  a  swift  glance  across 
the  bed.  Evidently,  Monsieur  Peron  had,  at  one 
time,  been  a  personage  of  some  importance.  Sover- 
eigns did  not  bestow  such  gifts  upon  undistinguished 
people. 

"  Take  that  ring  and  the  Order,"  commanded  the 
old  man  in  his  feeble,  husky  voice.  "  Go  and  pawn 
them.  If  you  cannot  get  enough  by  pawning,  sell 
them  outright.  And  buy  a  dress-suit  with  the  money 
to-day." 

Both  Nello  and  his  sister  protested.  These  two  ob- 
jects and  the  piano  were  all  that  the  old  man  had  pre- 
served out  of  his  brilliant  past. 

Corsini  spoke.  "  Listen,  dear  Papa !  You  would 
not  part  with  these  when  we  had  not  enough  to  eat. 
I  can  understand  what  they  represent  to  you.  Do  not 
worry  about  me.  I  will  go  to  Degraux  in  a  couple  of 
days  and  explain  the  situation.  Even  if  he  is  an- 
noyed, he  will  have  gone  too  far  to  recede." 

But  Peron  was  persistent.  A  flash  of  his  old  im- 
periousness  came  back  to  him. 

"  Go  and  do  as  I  tell  you.  My  days  are  num- 
bered. My  one  hope  is  that  I  may  live  to  see  you 
successful.     Go  and  dress  yourself  properly.     Let  me 


THE  INTEIGUERS  37 

hear  of  your  success  before  I  die ;  that  is  all  I  wish." 

The  strain  of  the  interview  had  been  too  much  for 
him.  Taken  with  a  violent  fit  of  coughing,  he  sank 
back  exhausted  on  his  pillow.  Anita  pointed  to  the 
door. 

"  You  cannot  disobey  his  wishes.  Come  back  and 
tell  him  you  have  done  what  he  asked  you.  It  may 
give  him  a  few  days  more  of  life." 

The  young  man,  fearing  the  old  man's  death, 
rushed  round  to  the  nearest  pawnbroker  in  Wardour 
Street.  Upon  the  ring  alone  he  raised  sufficient  to 
hire  a  dress-suit  at  a  neighbouring  costumier's.  On 
his  return  he  was  overjoyed  to  find  that  the  poor  Papa 
had  rallied  from  his  exhaustion. 

On  the  night  of  the  concert  Nello  came  into  the 
old  man's  room  to  bid  him  good-night.  Peron  drew 
him  towards  him  and  kissed  him  on  both  cheeks. 

"  Courage,  my  son,  courage !  "  Alas !  every  day 
the  voice  was  getting  feebler.  "  You  play  at  the  end 
that  little  romance  with  your  own  variations.  Au 
revoir.  I  shall  be  awake  when  you  return  to  hear  the 
news.  Anita  and  I  will  not  have  a  wink  of  sleep 
till  you  come  back." 

"  Au  revoir,  hon  Papa !  "  was  Nello's  parting 
greeting. 

Papa  Peron  raised  himself  in  his  bed,  shook  his 
hand  at  the  air  and  almost  shouted  after  him :  "  And 
if  you  do  not  outplay  that  charlatan,  Bauquel,  I  will 
never  forgive  you." 


CHAPTER  IV 

I^ELLO  stood  facing  the  big  and  fashionable  audi- 
ence. A  celebrated  accompanist  was  already  seated 
at  the  piano.  There  was  perfect  silence  in  the  vast 
assembly.  In  a  few  seconds  the  pianist  would  strike 
the  opening  chords,  and  Nello  Corsini,  the  unknown 
violinist,  must  justify  the  faith  that  had  been  placed 
in  him  by  Paul  Degraux. 

He  felt  sick  and  a  little  faint.  As  he  looked  dimly 
into  that  vast  sea  of  expectant  faces,  he  realised  the 
ordeal  to  which  he  was  exposed.  In  the  little  room 
in  Dean  Street,  with  Papa  Peron  and  his  worship- 
ping sister  for  an  audience,  it  was  not  difficult  to  feel 
at  ease,  to  pour  out  his  artistic  soul.  Even  to  Gay 
and  Degraux,  in  the  privacy  of  their  apartments,  he 
had  given  of  his  best. 

But  to-night  he  was  before  a  vast  audience,  critical 
and  fastidious.  Had  they  not  already  sampled  many 
executants,  many  equal  to  himself,  not  a  few  supe^ 
rior  ? 

The  salient  episodes  of  his  later  life  floated  before 
him.  His  meeting  with  Papa  Peron,  his  introduc- 
tion to  Gay,  the  placid  evenings  when  he  had  played 
at  the  Parthenon  for  a  small  wage,  his  accident  and 
the  miserable  days  that  had  supervened,  his  desperate 
visit  to  the  powerful  Degraux,  the  marvellous  success 

of  that  interview.     And  behind  the  recollection  of  all 

38 


THE  INTRIGUERS  39 

this,  the  memory  of  that  dreadful  time  when  ho  had 
played  in  the  streets  for  a  few  wretched  coppers  to 
keep  himself  and  his  sister  from  want. 

But  to-night  he  was  playing  for  fame  and  fortune, 
through  the  lucky  chance  of  the  great  Bauquel's  ab- 
sence. If  he  made  good  to-night,  if  he  could  secure 
the  plaudits  of  this  fashionable  crowd,  coppers  would 
no  longer  be  his  portion,  but  sovereigns  and  Bank  of 
England  notes. 

It  was  a  brilliant  assembly.  In  the  Royal  box  sat 
the  Queen  of  England,  with  the  Prince  and  Princess 
of  Wales.  Peers  and  Peeresses  were  there  by  the 
dozen.  Every  other  person  was  more  or  less  distin- 
guished. This  was  no  audience  gathered  from  the 
corners  of  mean  streets. 

As  the  pianist  struck  the  opening  chords,  the  mist 
cleared  from  the  young  man's  brain.  Those  up- 
turned faces  which  met  his  fascinated  gaze  were  no 
longer  charged  with  cold  hostility,  but  full  of  friendli- 
ness, of  welcome  to  a  new  and  untried  artist.  He 
drew  his  bow  caressingly  across  the  strings,  and  began. 

The  last  plaintive  notes  died  away  —  he  had  chosen 
to  open  with  an  exquisite  romance  of  Greig's.  The 
applause  was  sincere,  but  it  was  not  fervent.  De- 
graux,  standing  anxiously  in  the  wings,  had  to  admit 
that  it  was  not  fervent.  And  then,  suddenly,  Bau- 
quel's noisy  claque  burst  forth  in  a  storm  of  hisses.  , 
They  were  paid  by  the  popular  favourite  to  howl  down 
any  likely  rival. 

The  young  man's  face  went  white  as  death.  Was 
the  chance  going  to  be  snatched  from  him?  Would 
he  leave  the  theatre  a  failure,  to  the  disgust  of  the 


40  THE  Il^TRIGUERS 

man  who  had  befriended  him  and  put  faith  in  him  ? 

The  storm  of  hisses,  hired  disapprobation,  died 
slowly  down,  countered,  as  it  was,  with  a  little  de- 
corous and  well-mannered  applause.  The  charming 
romance  of  Greig,  though  exquisitely  played,  had 
failed  to  really  touch  the  audience.  If  the  great 
Bauquel,  with  his  well-established  reputation,  had 
rendered  it,  the  house  would  have  been  in  a  furore. 

Corsini's  next  item  was  a  piece  by  Chopin.  Amid 
the  din  of  the  contending  hisses  and  applause,  the 
pianist  beckoned  to  the  young  man  and  they  ex- 
changed whispers. 

"  Take  my  advice ;  leave  the  Chopin  piece.  They 
are  not  in  the  melancholy  mood  to-night:  they  want 
something  brilliant,  an  imdemote  of  pathos  with  a 
cascade  of  fireworks  to  relieve  the  sadness.  Play  that 
romance  of  yours,  with  the  variations.  Cut  the 
theme  as  short  as  possible;  use  it  as  just  an  introduc- 
tion. Get  to  work  on  the  variations,  those  will  fetch 
them." 

ISTello  set  his  teeth  firmly;  opposition,  the  sus- 
picion of  failure,  had  goaded  him  to  fresh  effort,  to  a 
fuller  belief  in  his  own  powers.  He  remembered  the 
good  old  Papa's  injunction :  "  If  you  do  not  out- 
play that  charlatan,  Bauquel,  I  will  never  forgive 
you." 

And  he  played  as  one  inspired.  The  violin,  a 
legacy  from  his  father,  sang  and  sobbed  and  thrilled 
as  it  had  never  done  before.  When  he  had  finished 
the  applause  was  hearty  and  vehement.  The  hisses 
of  the  Bauquel   claque   could  no  longer  be  heard. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  41 

The  unknown  joung  violinist  had  made  good  and  won 
the  plaudits  of  one  of  the  most  critical  audiences  in 
Europe. 

Degraux  met  him  in  the  wings  and  shook  him 
warmly  by  the  hand.  "  A  thousand  thanks.  I  see 
now  I  was  right  in  engaging  you,  in  speculating  on  a 
chance.  Now,  come  to  my  room.  You  told  me 
something  yesterday  about  certain  things  in  Dean 
Street.  Cheques  are  no  good  to  you.  You  want 
ready  money." 

Nello  admitted  that  it  was  so.  Toget"her  they  has- 
tened into  the  director's  private  room.  Degraux 
went  to  a  small  safe,  unlocked  it  and  drew  forth  a 
roll  of  notes. 

"  See  here,  my  young  friend,  you  have  saved  the 
position.  For  the  moment,  that  rascal  Bauquel  is 
temporarily  eclipsed.  Here  is  your  fee,  double  what 
I  promised." 

Nello  protested  faintly.  "  But,  Monsieur,  this  is 
too  much.  And  remember,  please,  I  was  very  nearly 
a  failure.  Bauquel's  claque  was  almost  too  much 
for  me." 

Degraux  laughed  light-heartedly.  "  Very  nearly, 
but  not  quite.  You  say  your  good  old  Papa  Peron 
calls  him  a  charlatan.  The  expression  is  perhaps  a 
little  strong.  He  is  not  that,  but  he  is  perhaps  not 
the  genius  he  thinks  himself,  or  his  friends  think 
him." 

"  I  should  be  more  than  delighted  to  possess  his 
reputation,  IMonsieur,"  interrupted  the  young  Italian. 

Degraux  laid  his  hand  lightly  on  Nello's  shoulder. 


42  THE  INTRIGUERS 

"  I  see,  Corsini,  you  have  a  liead  upon  your  shoul- 
ders. Will  you  permit  me  to  give  you  a  few  words 
of  sound  advice  ?  '* 

"  A  thousand  if  you  are  so  disposed,  Monsieur." 

"  You  have  scored  a  triumph  of  sorts  to-night,  but 
don't  let  it  give  you  a  swollen  head." 

"  It  will  not,  Monsieur,  I  can  assure  you,"  was 
the  answer. 

"  That  is  well ;  preserve  the  business  head  as  well 
as  the  artistic  instinct.  This  profession  is  full  of 
ups  and  downs.  Look  at  Bauquel !  In  spite  of  his 
considerable  earnings,  he  is  always  in  debt,  always  in 
the  hands  of  money-lenders.  He  earns  easily^  he 
spends  more  easily.  In  five  years  he  will  be  ousted 
from  his  position  by  younger  and  more  talented  rivals, 
and  he  will  be  penniless.  He  will  probably  come  to 
me  to  borrow  a  sovereign." 

"  And  you  will  let  him  have  it,  I  am  sure,  Mon- 
sieur," said  Nello  warmly.  "  You  have  a  very  kind 
heart." 

"  Of  course  T  shall  let  him  have  it.  But,  at  the 
same  time,  I  shall  take  advantage  of  the  opportunity 
to  say,  '  here  it  is,  friend  Bauquel.  But  why  did  you 
not  save  in  the  fat  years,  instead  of  spending  your 
money  on  a  miserable  claque,  in  order  to  spoil  my 
show?  And  you  know,  moreover,  you  were  abso- 
lutely in  the  wrong.'  " 

l^ello  could  not  refrain  from  smiling,  Paul  De- 
graux  was  very  human.  He  could  not  forgive  Bau- 
quel for  his  cavalier  treatment. 

"  I  am  a  frugal  Italian,  Monsieur.  I  shall  never 
waste  my  money." 


THE  INTEIGUERS  43 

Paul  Degraux  swelled  out  his  broad  chest.  "  You 
will  get  on,  my  young  friend.  Look  at  me !  Twenty 
or  twenty-five  years  ago  I  was  playing  in  a  small  or- 
chestra with  Gay  at  a  few  shillings  a  week  —  I  have 
no  doubt  Gay  has  told  you  of  that  little  episode.  I 
know  he  is  a  very  garrulous  person  —  a  dear  good 
chap,  but  garrulous.  Well,  Gay  is  tl  ere  and  I  am 
here.     Why  ?  " 

He  thundered  out  the  question,  expanding  still 
further  his  broad  chest. 

Xello  temporised.  The  great  director  was  evi- 
dently in  a  confidential  mood.  It  was  as  well  to  fall 
in  with  his  humour. 

"  Ah,  why,  Monsieur  ?  I  should  like  to  know.  I 
am  sure  I  should  learn  a  good  deal." 

Degraux,  in  his  present  mood,  was  pleased  to  have  a 
listener.  The  concert  was  going  on  splendidly  with 
experienced  stars.  It  no  longer  required  his  atten- 
tion. 

"  Listen,  my  young  friend !  I  devoted  myself  to 
the  business  side  of  art.  I  saw  more  money  was  to 
be  made  out  of  exploiting  other  people  than  being 
exploited  by  others.     Do  you  understand  ?  " 

"  I  think  I  do,"  said  the  young  Italian,  who  was 
fairly  shrewd  for  his  years.  "  In  fact,  I  am  sure 
I  do." 

"  Good !  Gay  followed  the  artistic  side."  De- 
graux  snapped  his  fingers  contemptuously.  "  The 
result:  poor  Gay,  at  his  age,  conducting  a  small  or- 
chestra at  the  Parthenon  —  a  good  one,  I  admit ;  but 
what  is  the  remuneration  ?  I,  Paul  Degraux,"  again 
he  tapped  his  broad  chest  significantly,  "  am  here  in 


44  THE  INTKIGUERS 

a  great  position.  I  have  followed  tlie  business  side 
of  art;  poor  old  Gay  has  followed  the  artistic  side. 
Bah !  " 

"  You  advise  me,  Monsieur,  to  cultivate  the  busi- 
ness side  ?  "  queried  the  young  man. 

"  Of  course.  I  am  giving  you  good  advice ;  sound 
advice.  You  have  made  a  little  stir  here,  certain 
things  may  follow  from  it.  But  still,  you  have  not 
the  reputation  of  Bauquel,  second-rater  that  he  is. 
Bauquel  will  be  on  his  knees  to  me  next  week,  and 
of  course  I  shall  take  him  back.  It  may  be,  when  you 
come  to  me  again,  I  can  only  give  you  a  second  place 
in  the  programme.  The  way  will  be  hard  from  the 
artistic  point  of  view." 

I^ello  listened  with  deep  attention.  Degraux  was 
a  man  of  business  to  his  finger-tips.  Certainly  he 
was  giving  him  good  advice. 

"  And  what  are  they,  these  artists,  except  the  very 
few  who  are  in  the  front  rank  —  creatures  of  an 
hour,  of  the  public's  caprice  ?  Joachim,  Sarasate, 
those  are  names  to  conjure  with ;  they  are  permanent. 
But  the  others  come  and  go.  I,  one  of  the  directors 
of  the  Italian  Opera,  remain  while  they  disappear. 
The  exploiters  are  permanent,  the  exploited  are  transi- 
tory." 

"  What  do  you  advise.  Monsieur  ?  "  asked  !N"ello 
timidly.  This  whirlwind  of  a  man  half  fascinated, 
half  repelled  him. 

Monsieur  Degraux  held  out  his  hand  with  his 
frank,  engaging  smile. 

"  Be  exploited  as  long  as  it  suits  your  book.  Then 
save  money  and  exploit  other  people.     I  cannot  stay 


THE  INTRIGUEES  45 

any  longer.  I  have  given  you  a  few  hints.  You 
must  work  them  out  for  yourself." 

A  new  world  was  opening  to  Nello  Corsini,  the 
talented  young  violinist  who,  only  a  few  weeks  ago, 
had  played  in  the  street  on  the  chance  of  the  coppers 
flung  by  passers-by.  But  it  was  absurd !  How 
could  he  ever  be  a  Paul  Degraux?  And  yet,  De- 
graux  had  played  twenty-five  years  ago  in  a  small 
orchestra  for  a  pittance.  What  was  his  income  now  ? 
Something  princely. 

He  longed  to  hasten  back  to  Dean  Street  with  that 
precious  sheaf  of  notes.  How  the  dear  old  Papa's 
eyes  would  lighten  up  at  the  news  of  his  success, 
when  he  told  him  the  tale  of  how  Bauquel's  claqtbe 
had  been  silenced.  And  the  dear  little  Anita  too! 
Tears  of  joy  would  run  down  her  cheeks. 

Degraux,  or  Bauquel,  after  such  a  night  of  tri- 
umph, would  have  taken  a  cab.  But  such  an  idea 
was  alien  to  Nello's  frugal  temperament.  It  was 
only  a  few  moments'  walk.  He  took  his  violin  case 
in  his  hand  and  stepped  along  bravely. 

As  he  emerged  from  the  theatre  a  footman  in  hand- 
some livery  laid  his  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  Pardon  mo,  Signor  Corsini.  The  Princess  Zou- 
roff  wishes  to  speak  to  you.  Will  you  follow  me, 
please  ?     T  will  lead  you  to  her  carriage." 

He  followed  the  tall  footman.  The  Princess,  a 
grey-haired  woman  of  tall  and  commanding  presence, 
leaned  through  the  carriage  window. 

"  Ah,  Signor  Corsini,  I  have  been  enchanted  with 
your  playing  to-night.  I  am  giving  a  reception  at 
the  Russian  Embassy,  in  Chesham  Place,  to-morrow 


46  THE  INTRIGUERS 

evening.  I  shall  be  so  pleased  if  you  will  come  and 
play  for  us  —  at  your  own  fee,  of  course." 

IsTello  shot  a  swift  glance  into  the  carriage.  On  the 
back  seat,  facing  the  horses,  were  the  grey-haired 
woman  and  a  beautiful  young  girl.  On  the  front  seat 
was  a  dark,  handsome  man  of  about  thirty-five. 

He  recognised  them  at  once,  the  man  and  the  young 
girl.  They  were  the  two  who  had  driven  down  the 
street  to  the  Royalty  Theatre  on  that  dark  winter 
night  when  he  had  been  playing  in  the  streets. 

"  Enchanted,  Madame.  I  will  present  myself  to 
you  to-morrow  evening.  Will  you  forgive  me  if  I 
render  you  only  very  brief  thanks  at  the  moment? 
I  have  a  very  dear  friend,  I  fear  at  the  point  of 
death,  to  whom  I  must  hasten." 

The  grey-haired  Princess  inclined  her  head  gra- 
ciously. "  Pray  do  not  wait  a  moment.  I  am  sorry 
such  trouble  is  awaiting  you  on  the  night  of  so  great 


a  success." 


Nello  raised  his  hat  and  was  moving  away,  when 
the  charming  girl  leaned  forward  and  spoke  impetu- 
ously. 

"  One  second.  Signer ;  we  might  be  of  assistance  to 
you.  Will  you  please  give  me  the  name  of  your 
friend,  and  his  address  ?  "  She  had  recognised  him 
the  moment  he  appeared  on  the  platform  as  the 
wandering  musician  she  had  passed  on  her  way  to  the 
Royalty  Theatre. 

She  turned  eagerly  to  the  Princess,  her  mother. 
"  We  might  send  our  own  doctor.  Sir  Charles  Eowler, 
he  is  so  very  clever.  Perhaps  this  gentleman's 
friend  has  not  had  the  best  medical  advice." 


THE  INTRIGUERS  47 

The  Princess  assented  graciously.  She  was  a  very 
kind-hearted  woman,  if  not  quite  so  enthusiastic  in 
works  of  charity  as  her  more  impulsive  daughter. 

Nello,  with  burning  cheeks,  gave  the  name  of  poor 
old  Papa  Peron  and  the  number  of  the  small  house 
in  Dean  Street.  His  cheeks  flamed,  because  he  was 
wondering  if  she  had  recognised  him  as  he  had  re- 
membered her.  It  was  evident  she  thought  he  was 
poor  by  that  remark  about  the  best  medical  advice. 

He  thanked  both  the  ladies  in  a  low  tone,  and  for 
the  second  time  turned  away.  The  man.  Prince 
Zouroff,  who  had  been  fidgeting  impatiently  during 
the  short  interview,  leaned  out  of  the  window  of  the 
carriage,  and  in  a  sharp,  angry  voice  commanded  the 
coachman  to  drive  on. 

Ho  sank  back  in  his  seat  and  darted  a  glance  of 
contempt,  first  at  his  sister,  then  at  his  mother. 

"  Your  foolish  sentimentality  makes  me  sick,  Nada. 
And  I  am  surprised  at  you  for  abetting  her  in  it," 
he  added  for  the  benefit  of  the  Princess. 

The  Princess  answered  him  in  calm,  sarcastic 
tones.  "  Would  it  not  be  better,  Boris,  if  you  left 
off  interfering  with  every  word  and  act  of  poor  little 
Nada  ?  If  she  has  too  much  compassion,  you  re- 
dress the  balance  by  having  none." 

Nello  hastened  with  quick  strides  in  the  direction 
of  Dean  Street.  His  one  fear  was  that  Peron  might 
have  already  passed  away.  It  would  be  heart-rend- 
ing if  he  were  not  alive  to  hear  the  splendid  news. 

But  the  vital  flame,  although  very  low,  was  still 
burning.  The  old  man  had  had  a  long  sleep,  the 
sleep  of  exhaustion.     By  some  strange  effort  of  will, 


48  THE  INTEIGUERS 

lie  had  allayed  the  impending  dissolution,  had  awoke 
about  the  expected  time  of  Nello's  return,  and  was 
sitting  up  in  bed,  propped  up  against  the  pillows, 
awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  young  man  whom  he  had 
grown  to  regard  as  a  son. 

"  It  is  well,  I  can  see,"  he  said  in  the  low,  husky 
voice  that  was  so  soon  to  be  hushed  for  ever.  "  It  is 
well.  Triumph  is  written  all  over  your  face.  You 
have  scored  an  even  greater  success  than  you  antici- 
pated, eh  ? " 

Nello  sank  on  his  knees  beside  the  bed,  at  which 
his  sister  had  devotedly  seated  herself,  to  watch  the 
least  movement  of  the  dying  man.  He  possessed  him- 
self of  one  of  the  long,  wasted  hands  —  those  hands 
which  had  once  made  such  eloquent  music  —  and 
kissed  it  reverently. 

"  All  thanks  to  you,  my  more  than  father.  There 
was  a  trying  moment.  My  first  piece  did  not  touch 
them  much,  and  the  Bauquel  claque,  as  Degraux 
warned  me  would  be  the  case,  did  their  best  to  hiss 
me  down.  Then  I  set  my  teeth  and  vowed  that  I 
would  not  be  a  failure  and  return  home  disgraced. 
I  played  that  little  romance,  with  my  variations.  I 
finished  in  a  storm  of  applause." 

"  Ah !  "  sighed  Peron  amongst  his  pillows,  a  wan 
smile  lighting  his  livid  face.  "  That  is  your  master- 
piece.    That  would  always  stir  the  dullest  audience." 

"  And  listen,  dear  good  Papa.  Degraux  was  so 
pleased  with  my  success  that  he  has  paid  me  double 
the  fee  he  promised.  No  more  short  commons  for 
any  of  us.  Little  Anita  here  shall  keep  the  purse 
and  maintain  us  in  royal  state."     He  threw  his  head 


THE  ITs^TRIGUEKS  49 

back  and  laughed  almost  hysterically.  ''  Oh,  it  must 
be  a  dream,  a  wild,  mad  dream.  I  cannot  be  the 
same  Nello  Corsini  who,  a  few  weeks  ago,  used  to 
play  in  the  streets  for  coppers." 

Then  he  recovered  from  his  overwrought  mood. 
There  was  more  yet  to  be  told  to  this  kind  old  man. 

"  Then,  dear  Papa,  I  had  an  adventure  —  it  was 
the  first-fruits  of  success.  As  I  came  out,  a  tall  foot- 
man in  livery  accosted  me;  he  was  to  lead  me  to  the 
carriage  of  the  Princess  ZourofF." 

Peron's  voice  grew  a  little  stronger.  "  The 
mother  of  the  Russian  Ambassador,  Boris  ZourofF. 
In  the  long  ago  I  used  to  know  her.  Her  husband 
was  a  brute.  She  has  two  children,  Boris  and  a  girl 
much  younger  than  he.  I  have  heard  that  Boris  ia 
a  brute  like  his  father.  Go  on,  Nello.  Einish  your 
adventure ;  but  I  can  guess  what  is  coming." 

"  The  Princess  is  giving  a  reception  to-morrow 
evening  at  the  Embassy  in  Chesham  Place.  She  has 
asked  me  to  play,  at  my  own  price." 

Tears  welled  up  into  the  old  man's  eyes.  "  You 
are  made,  my  son,  but  we  must  not  be  too  jubilant. 
Artists  are  creatures  of  the  hour.  To-day  Bauquel, 
to-morrow  Xello  Corsini.  Take  advantage  of  the 
present,  but  it  will  be  wise  to  look  out  for  something 
more  permanent  than  the  caprice  of  public  favour, 
which  dethrones  its  idols  almost  as  quickly  as  it  has 
crowned  them." 

Nello  started.  There  was  in  Peron's  mind  the 
same  thought  that  Degraux  had  expressed  a  short 
time  ago. 

The  poor  old  man  rallied  himself  for  a  last  effort. 


60  THE  INTRIGUEKS 

"  In  that  little  cupboard  yonder  there  is  a  packet 
containing  a  few  private  papers.  You  will  destroy 
all  except  a  letter  addressed  to  yourself;  in  it  you 
will  find  my  last  instructions.  But  you  will  not  open 
that  cupboard  till  I  am  dead.  You  both  know  as  well 
as  I  do  that  it  is  only  a  question  of  a  few  hours. 
Well,  my  son,  I  do  not  regret;  I  have  lived  long 
enough  to  know  of  your  success.  And  you  have  both 
been  a  great  comfort  to  me.  My  heart  was  starved 
till  I  met  you.  You  have  taken  the  place  of  the  chil- 
dren I  never  had." 

As  he  finished,  there  was  a  thundering  knock  at 
the  door.  ISTello  jumped  up,  remembering.  Had  not 
the  Princess  Nada  promised  to  send  their  own  phy- 
sician ? 

"  I  forgot  to  tell  you,  ton  Papa.  I  told  them  I  was 
in  a  hurry  to  get  back  to  you  because  you  were  so  ill. 
The  young  Princess,  a  most  beautiful  girl,  inquired 
your  name  and  address.  I  gave  them.  She  wished 
you  to  have  the  best  medical  advice.  She  is  sending 
vou  their  doctor,  Sir  Charles  Fowler.  I  am  sure 
that  is  he.     I  will  go  down  and  see." 

In  good  health,  Papa  Peron,  in  spite  of  his  kind 
heart  and  still  kinder  actions,  had  a  little  spice  of 
malice  in  him.  He  was  not  quite  exhausted,  as  his 
next  words  showed. 

"  I  know  him  well  by  reputation."  This  remark- 
able old  man  knew  of  everybody,  so  it  seemed. 
"  Rather  pompous  and  very  suave,  a  good  bedside 
manner,  rather  despised  by  his  fellow  practitioners. 
But  he  has  a  large  and  very  aristocratic  connection : 
he  panders  to  their  whims.     But  it  was  very  sweet 


THE  INTEIGUERS  51 

of  the  young  Princess.  Evidently  she  does  not  take 
after  her  father,  she  inherits  the  sweetness  of  her 
mother.  Twenty  Sir  Charles  Fowlers  cannot  keep 
me  alive.  But  show  him  up,  out  of  deference  to  the 
Princess.  He  is  as  much  a  charlatan  in  his  profes- 
sion as  Bauquel  is  in  his." 

'NeU.o  went  downstairs  into  the  shabby  sitting-room, 
where  the  slatternly  maid  had  just  shown  in  the  popu- 
lar physician. 

Sir  Charles  addressed  the  young  musician  in  his 
most  bland  and  courteous  accents.  He  must  privately 
have  been  very  annoyed  to  be  sent  at  this  time  of  night 
to  such  an  obscure  patient,  but  he  did  not  betray  his 
annoyance.  The  Princess  Zouroff  and  her  daughter 
were  demi-goddesses  to  him.  Their  whims  were 
equivalent  to  a  Royal  command. 

"  Signor  Corsini,  I  presume  ?  The  Princess  has 
told  me  over  the  'phone  of  your  great  success  to-night ; 
I  congratulate  you.  She  has  sent  me  to  see  a  friend 
of  yours,  who  I  understand  is  seriously  ill.  Of 
course  it  is  not  very  strict  professional  eitquette  that 
I  should  intrude  myself  without  a  request  from  his 
local  doctor.  But  the  Princess  is  a  little  autocratic, 
and  will  be  obeyed."  He  waved  his  plump  hands 
depreeatingly,  in  well-bred  apology  for  the  unaccount- 
able vagaries  of  the  aristocracy.  "  Will  you  take  me 
to  him,  please?  " 

Corsini  led  him  up  the  shabby,  narrow  staircase 
into  the  small  apartment  containing  the  two  beds,  in 
one  of  which  the  now  successful  violinist  was  used  to 
sleep. 

Anita  was  hanging  over  the  bed,  with  a  white  face, 


52  THE  INTRIGUEKS    ' 

the  tears  raining  down  her  cheeks.  In  those  few  sec- 
onds of  the  conversation  between  her  brother  and  the 
doctor,  the  poor  old  man's  soul  had  taken  flight  to 
happier  realms. 

Sir  Charles  stepped  to  the  other  side,  and  his 
trained  eye  took  in  the  situation  at  once. 

"  Alas,  my  dear  sir,  too  late !  He  has  passed  away, 
absolutely  without  pain,  I  assure  you.  But  I  could 
have  done  nothing  for  him.  He  is  very  old :  a  clear 
case  of  senile  decay,  aggravated  by  the  malady  from 
which  he  has  been  suffering.  Your  local  doctor  will 
give  you  a  certificate." 

He  looked  intently  at  the  white  countenance.  Sir 
Charles  might  not  be  a  very  clever  physician,  as  his 
less  opulent  colleagues  were  always  very  fond  of  af- 
firming, but  he  had  special  gifts  of  his  own. 

"  A  fine,  intellectual  head,  a  distinguished  face. 
I  should  not  be  surprised  if  he  had  once  been  a  man 
of  some  distinction.  Do  you  know  anything  of  his 
antecedents  ?  " 

Nello  shook  his  head.  "  Next  to  nothing.  Our 
acquaintance  has  been  too  recent  for  much  confidence, 
but  he  has  been  very  kind  to  myself  and  sister.  I 
gather  that  he  was  at  one  time  a  very  celebrated 
pianist." 

"  His  name,  the  Princess  told  me  over  the  'phone, 
was  Peron.  With  the  recollection  of  all  the  great 
artists  for,  say,  fifty  years,  I  cannot  recall  that  name. 
We  have  here,  my  dear  sir,  a  mystery,  and  probably 
a  tragedy  also.  I  will  keep  you  no  longer.  A  thou- 
sand regrets  that  my  visit  has  been  so  useless." 

Nello  saw  the  plump,  urbane  man  to  the  door,  and 


THE  INTRIGUERS  53 

then  returned  to  the  little  bedroom  where  poor  old 
Papa  Peron,  of  the  kind  heart  and  the  caustic  tongue, 
lay  in  the  last  sleep  of  aU. 


CHAPTER  V 

His  heart  liea\'7  with  grief  at  the  loss  of  his  kind 
old  friend,  who  had  been  to  him  and  his  sister  a  sec- 
ond father,  ISTello  Corsini  faced  again  a  fastidious  and 
critical  audience  in  the  saloons  of  the  Russian  Em- 
bassy. 

Last  night  he  had  played  to  the  elite  of  the  fashion- 
able world,  made  up  of  its  many  elements.  Royalty, 
as  represented  by  the  sovereign  and  her  children,  the 
flower  of  the  aristocracy,  subordinate  members  of  the 
financial  and  commercial  world,  distinguished  per- 
sons of  every  profession. 

To-night  he  was  to  appear  before  the  smaller  world 
of  diplomacy  and  politics.  But  he  was  very  confident 
of  himself.  If  he  had  not  failed  on  that  vast  stage, 
he  would  not  disgrace  himself  on  a  smaller  one. 

The  Princess  Zouroff  was  devoted  to  music,  as  was 
her  daughter.  The  somewhat  brutal  Prince,  her  son, 
could  not  distinguish  one  note  from  another  —  like 
his  father,  whose  death  had  been  regretted  by  nobody, 
excepting  his  son. 

The  difference  between  father  and  son  was  very 

easy  to  define.     The  late  Prince  Zouroff  was  both 

brutal  and  brainless.     The  present  holder  of  the  title 

was  of  quite  as  brutal  nature  as  his  father,  but  he 

possessed  mentality.     In  short,  he  inherited  the  brains 

of  his  mother,  the  gentle,  grey-haired  lady,  whom  he 

despised  for  her  womanly  qualities. 

54 


THE  INTRIGUEES  55 

Two  prime  donne  and  a  celebrated  contralto  had 
already  sung.  The  two  prime  donne  had  united  in  a 
duet  which  resembled  the  warbles  of  two  nightingales ; 
the  contralto  had  enchanted  the  audience  wath  her 
deep  and  resonant  notes ;  an  accomplished  quartette 
had  disbursed  exquisite  music. 

It  w^as  time  for  the  turn  of  the  violinist.  Nello 
Corsini,  his  slim  figure  habited  in  the  garments  whicH 
he  had  hired  from  a  costumier  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  Wardour  Street,  followed  these  famous  personages. 

He  was  so  adaptive  that,  in  this  short  space,  he  had 
learned  to  accustom  himself  to  his  environment.  A 
few  weeks  ago  he  had  been  playing  in  the  streets  for 
coppers.     To-night  he  was  playing  for  higher  stakes. 

He  darted  his  bright,  keen  eyes  over  the  illustrious 
assembly,  and  his  spirits  rose,  as  they  always  did  when 
something  was  to  be  striven  for. 

In  a  far  corner  he  saw  three  men  standing  together 
and  whispering  confidentially.  One  was  the  Prime 
Minister,  Lord  Salisbury,  wearing  the  ribbon  of  the 
Garter;  another  was  that  brilliant  genius,  too  early 
eclipsed,  Lord  Randolph  Churchill ;  the  third  was  a 
slim,  tall  young  man,  who  had  taken  on  the  danger- 
ous post  of  Secretary  for  Ireland,  still  now  with  us, 
beloved  and  revered  by  all  parties,  Arthur  James 
Balfour,  who  later  succeeded  his  great  uncle  as  Prime 
Minister. 

In  these  far-off  days  the  old  melodies  were  the 
sweetest.  ISTcllo  played  first  the  "  Ave  Maria  "  of 
Gounod.  He  followed  on  with  Chopin.  And  then, 
as  a  finale,  he  played  that  exquisite  little  romance 
which  had  floated  on  a  wintry  night  out  of  the  win- 


56  THE  INTRIGUERS 

dow  of  a  house  in  Dean  Street,  with,  his  own  vari- 
ations. 

There  was  a  subdued  thrill  amongst  the  audience. 
There  was  not  the  full-throated  applause  that  had 
greeted  him  at  Covent  Garden ;  but  he  made  allowance 
for  that.  The  pit  and  the  gallery  had  had  something 
to  say  last  evening:  they  were  always  ready  to  recog- 
nise a  new  genius.  This  assembly  was  too  blase,  it 
was  no  longer  capable  of  great  emotion,  even  in  the 
case  of  an  artist  of  the  first  rank.  But,  in  a  way, 
they  were  subtly  appreciative.  At  least,  he  had 
pleased  them. 

'Nello  Corsini,  with  his  keen  Latin  mind,  grasped 
the  situation.  Princess  Zouroff  had  set  the  fashion. 
There  were  many  more  fashionable  concerts  at  which 
he  would  be  invited  to  play,  at  remunerative  fees. 
But  he  also  remembered  that  both  Papa  Peron  and 
Degraux  had  pointed  out  to  him  the  uncertain  tenure 
of  public  favour. 

Unobtrusively,  he  made  his  way  out,  but  not  before 
Princess  Zouroff  had  thanked  him  warmly  for  the 
pleasure  he  had  given  them,  and  introduced  him  to  a 
few  notable  persons,  some  of  them  hostesses  as  popu- 
lar as  herself,  who  had  spoken  gracious  words. 

And  while  he  was  talking  to  one  of  these  exalted 
ladies,  there  had  floated  to  him  a  vision  of  youthful 
beauty,  the  lovely  young  Princess  IN'ada,  attired  in  an 
exquisite  dress  of  white  satin,  a  single  diamond  star 
in  her  dark-brown  hair,  round  her  slim  neck  a  row 
of  pearls.  These  were  her  only  ornaments.  She 
reached  out  her  slender  hand. 

"  Thank  you  so  much,  Signer.     That  exquisite  lit- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  57 

tie  romance  brought  the  tears  to  my  eyes.  We  shall 
meet  many  times  again,  I  trust,  and  I  shall  often  ask 
you,  as  a  special  request,  to  play  that  to  me." 

"  Enchanted,  Mademoiselle,"  answered  Corsini, 
bowing  low,  and  blushing  a  little.  He  was  rather 
overwhelmed  with  these  compliments  from  great 
ladies.  The  person  to  whom  he  was  talking  when 
Nada  intervened  was  a  popular  Countess,  the 
chatelaine  of  an  historic  house  in  Piccadilly.  She 
had  spoken  of  a  concert  in  a  few  days'  time  which 
she  had  invited  the  young  violinist  to  attend. 

"  A  great  artist  and  a  very  handsome  young  man 
also,"  murmured  the  great  lady  to  Nada,  as  soon  as 
Nello  was  out  of  earshot..  "  He  will  very  soon  be  the 
rage.     Bauquel  will  want  to  commit  suicide." 

The  Prince,  who  was  talking  to  the  Prime  Minister, 
and  always  saw  everything  that  was  going  on,  had  ob- 
served the  brief  conversation  between  his  sister  and 
the  violinist.     A  scowl  settled  on  his  handsome  face. 

As  soon  as  he  was  disengaged,  he  overtook  the 
young  Princess  as  she  was  on  her  way  to  speak  to 
some  guests. 

"  Indulging  in  a  little  bout  of  sentiment  again  with 
this  young  fiddler,  Nada  ?  "  he  inquired  in  sneering 
tones.  "  Telling  him  how  delighted  you  were  with 
his  playing,  eh  ?  What  need  is  there  to  thank  these 
hired  artists?  They  are  well  paid,  generally  over- 
paid, for  what  they  do." 

Usually  the  Princess  endured  the  insults  and  coarse 
remarks  of  her  truculent  brother  with  disdainful  in- 
difference. To-night  she  was  a  little  unstrung.  Like 
her  mother,  she  was  a  passionate  lover  of  music  — 


58  THE  INTRIGUEES 

what  the  French  describe  as  un  amateur.  The  lovely 
voices  of  the  two  prime  donne,  the  exquisite  strains  of 
the  violin,  had  raised  her  to  an  exalted  mood,  in  which 
she  only  wanted  to  think  of  things  pure  and  beautiful. 

The  Prince's  coarse  words  and  sneering  accents 
jarred  upon  her  sensibilities,  and  aroused  in  her  a 
spirit  of  antagonism.  She  darted  at  him  an  angry 
and  contemptuous  glance. 

"  You  are  more  than  usually  offensive  to-night, 
Boris.  I  suppose  you  have  been  indulging  in  your 
favourite  habit  of  drinking  too  much  champagne." 

The  shaft  went  home.  It  was  well  known  in  his 
family  and  amongst  his  friends  that  the  Prince,  in 
spite  of  the  obligations  of  his  high  position,  was  far 
from  abstemious,  and  had  caused  some  scandal  as  a 
consequence  of  his  unfortunate  proclivities. 

A  dull  flush  spread  over  his  hard,  handsome  face. 
"  You  little  spitfire !  "  he  growled  savagely.  "  I 
wonder  when  you  will  be  tamed.  ISTever,  so  long  as 
our  mother  refrains  from  keeping  a  tighter  rein  over 
you." 

For  answer,  the  young  Princess  swept  scornfully 
away  from  him,  in  her  pearls  and  shimmering  white 
satin,  a  dream  of  loveliness  to  everybody  except  her 
churlish  brother. 

Nello  hastened  home  to  his  frugal  supper  in  Dean 
Street,  prepared  for  him  by  the  capable  hands  of  his 
little  sister.  A  roll  of  notes  had  been  handed  to  him 
on  his  departure  by  a  slim  young  man,  the  secretary 
of  the  Princess.  In  spite  of  his  natural  grief  at  the 
death  of  the  poor  old  Papa,  he  was  jubilant  over  his 
good  luck.     In  two  evenings  he  had  made  a  small  for- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  59 

tune.  He  handed  over  the  precious  roll  of  notes  to 
Anita, 

"  They  are  safe  in  your  keeping,  my  dear  one. 
But  you  must  buy  yourself  some  good  clothes. 
Heaven  knows  we  have  starved  and  gone  shabby  long 
enough.  But  I  cannot  believe  in  it  yet.  It  is  still 
a  dream." 

Poor  Papa  Peron  was  lying  upstairs.  Nello  to- 
night would  sleep  in  an  improvised  bed  made  up  on 
the  shabby  sofa  in  the  sitting-room.  Anita,  with  her 
usual  spirit  of  self-sacrifice,  had  offered  him  her  own 
attic,  while  she  made  shift,  but,  of  course,  he  would 
not  hear  of  that. 

He  had  spent  the  morning  in  making  arrangements 
for  the  funeral;  they  would  bury  the  kind  old  Papa 
in  two  days  from  now.  Happily,  there  was  no  lack 
of  money  at  the  moment.  A  week  sooner,  and  a  pau- 
per's grave  might  have  awaited  him. 

Nello  was  very  excited  with  his  evening,  and  in 
consequence,  wakeful.  He  smoked  a  cigarette,  and 
Anita  thought  he  would  suggest  retiring  to  his  im- 
provised bed  after  he  had  finished.  But,  to  her  sur- 
prise, he  did  not  seem  at  all  desirous  of  repose. 

"  Are  you  very  sleepy,  little  one  ?  "  he  asked. 

As  a  matter  of  fact  the  girl  could  hardly  keep  her 
eyes  open.  The  long  watch  by  old  Peron's  bedside 
had  tried  her  slender  vitality  sorely.  But  she  was 
always  ready  to  sacrifice  herself  to  the  slightest  whim 
of  those  she  loved. 

"  ISTot  in  the  least.     What  is  in  your  mind,  ISTello  ?  " 

"  I  thought  we  might  look  through  the  dear  old 
Papa's  papers.     He  said  we  were  to  open  that  cup- 


60  THE  INTRIGUEKS 

board  after  his  death.  I  wonder  if  we  shall  learn 
who  and  what  he  was  ?  " 

Kello  went  to  the  little  cupboard  and  drew  from  it 
the  ebony  casket.  The  first  thing  that  met  his  eye 
was  the  glittering  order  of  Saint  Louis,  attached  to  a 
faded  ribbon,  which  had  been  returned  on  the  night 
when  he  had  raised  sufficient  money  on  the  miniature. 

There  was  a  very  small  bundle  of  papers,  carefully 
tied  up,  for  good  old  Papa  Peron  was  nothing  if  not 
methodical  and  neat.  There  was  nothing  in  the  pa- 
pers to  reveal  his  identity.  With  two  exceptions  they 
were  absolutely  unimportant  documents.  These,  ac- 
cording to  Peron's  dying  injunctions,  Nello  commit- 
ted to  the  fire.     It  was  the  dead  man's  wish. 

The  first  exception  was  a  letter  addressed  to  Anita, 
dated  a  few  weeks  back,  no  doubt  when  he  had 
prescience  that  the  end  was  near.  In  it  he  told  her 
that  he  had  left  everything  in  the  world  he  possessed 
to  her:  the  ring  set  with  diamonds,  which  had  not 
then  been  pawned,  the  order  of  St.  Louis,  and  the 
piano.  These  would  give  her  and  her  brother  a  little 
capital  with  which  to  carry  on. 

It  was  a  very  informal  sort  of  will,  although  he  had 
taken  the  precaution  to  have  his  signature  witnessed 
by  his  landlady.  But  there  was  no  next  of  kin  to 
dispute  the  document,  and  Anita  was  the  sole  heiress 
of  his  poor  possessions  —  poor  from  the  point  of  view 
of  money  value. 

Two  other  letters  were  tied  up  together,  the  one 
addressed  to  I^ello  himself,  the  other  marked  "  Pri- 
vate "  and  directed  to  the  Baron  Andreas  Salmoros, 
510  Old  Broad  Street,  E.G. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  61 

The  note  to  ISTello,  dated  a  few  days  after  the  more 
or  less  informal  will,  was  short  but  to  the  point. 

Peron  informed  his  protege,  at  the  time  of  writing, 
that  his  artistic  career  still  hung  in  the  balance. 
That  even  if  he  achieved  a  certain  success,  his  career 
was  an  uncertain  one.  It  behoved  him  therefore  to 
set  his  ambitions  in  other  directions  which  might 
yield  more  permanent  results.  The  letter  concluded 
as  follows : 

"  There  yet  remains  one  person  in  the  world  who 
will  still  take  an  interest  in  me.  For  the  remem- 
brance of  those  days  long  ago,  he  may  prove  of  service 
to  you  when  I  am  gone.  After  all  is  over  with  me, 
carry  this  letter  to  him  yourself.  Trust  it  to  no 
other  hands.  Of  course  you  have  guessed  that  Peron 
is  an  assumed  name.  If  the  Baron  likes  to  reveal  to 
you  my  identity,  he  will  do  so.  It  will  matter  no 
longer  to  me." 

Nello  gasped,  as  he  laid  do^^m  the  letter.  "But 
dear  old  Papa  Peron  must  have  been  a  distinguished 
man  at  one  time.  He  speaks  of  Salmoros  as  an  old,  I 
should  say  a  great,  friend  of  the  long  ago.  Of  course 
you  do  not  know  who  he  is." 

Anita  shook  her  head.  She  had  never  heard  of  the 
Baron  Andreas  Salmoros.  How  should  she  ?  Ab- 
sorbed in  her  domestic  cares,  she  never  read  the  news- 
papers. 

"  But  he  is  one  of  the  greatest  financiers  in  the 
world,"  cried  Nello  eagerly.  "  He  is  only  second  to 
the  Pothschilds  themselves." 

And  then  it  suddenly  struck  him  that  Salmoros  was 
a  very  busy  man,  that  approach  to  him  was  difficult. 


62  THE  INTKIGUEES 

Peron  had  expressly  said  that  he  was  to  take  the  letter 
to  him  himself.  If  Peron  had  only  written  a  private 
note  introducing  him,  a  note  that  could  be  posted! 
But  the  poor  Papa  had  not  thought  of  that,  of  course. 

Then  there  recurred  to  him  the  altered  circum- 
stances which  had  taken  place  since  that  letter  was 
written. 

Then  he  was  just  Signor  N'ello  Corsini,  unknown 
and  poor.  To-day  all  the  newspapers,  London  and 
provincial,  had  blazoned  forth  his  name  as  a  brilliant 
and  successful  artist.  Even  the  great  financier  would 
welcome  a  great  musician. 

And  even  if  he  did  not,  the  Princess  Zouroff,  at 
whose  house  he  had  played  to-night,  the  Countess, 
at  whose  house  he  was  playing  shortly,  would  secure 
him  a  personal  introduction.  It  was  a  certainty  that 
the  Baron's  vast  wealth  enabled  him  to  mix  in  their 
world. 


CHAPTER  VI 

A  MONTH  had  elapsed  since  the  funeral  of  the  good 
old  Papa,  and  the  note  addressed  to  the  Baron  Sal- 
moros  was  still  in  Corsini's  keeping.  lie  knew  from 
a  postscript  in  Peron's  letter  that  no  date  except  that 
of  the  year  had  heen  affixed  to  it,  for  obvious  reasons. 

The  young  man  was  considering  his  position. 
There  was  no  doubt  that  the  Baron  had  been  asked 
to  find  him  a  post  that  would  give  a  more  assured 
future,  remove  him  from  the  difficulties,  the  uncer- 
tainties of  an  artistic  career.  He  was  not  yet  quite 
sure  in  his  own  mind  that  he  wanted  to  avail  himself 
of  this  opportunity,  if  Salmoros  offered  it  to  him. 

His  month's  experience  had  been  very  satisfactory. 
An  enterprising  gentleman,  keenly  on  the  alert  for 
new  clients,  had  introduced  himself  to  him  and  estab- 
lished himself  as  his  agent,  unfolding  a  rosy  future 
if  he  trusted  himself  to  his  skilled  guidance.  Nello 
had  agreed.  This  plausible  person,  obviously  of  the 
Hebraic  persuasion,  knew  the  ropes,  Nello  did  not. 
Besides,  he  had  come  with  a  recommendation  from 
Degraux,  who  had  spoken  highly  of  his  abilities  in 
exploiting  young  artists,  who  had  set  their  first  step 
on  the  ladder  of  fame. 

Yes,  the  month  had  been  very  satisfactory,  if  it  had 
not  reaped  quite  such  a  golden  harvest  as  i^ello  and 
his  sister  had  anticipated.     The  agent  booked  him 


64  THE  INTEIGUERS 

for  private  concerts  as  hard  as  Le  could,  but  there  was 
a  great  variance  iii  the  fees.  Some  were  considerable, 
some  very  moderate.  Mr.  Mosenstein  —  such  was 
the  agent's  name  —  made  light  of  the  discrepancy. 
These  were  the  anomalies  incidental  to  the  profession. 

"  The  great  thing  is  to  get  known,  my  dear  boy,  to 
be  seen  everywhere,  in  South  Kensington  as  well  as 
Belgravia,"  the  plausible  agent  had  explained.  "  If 
South  Kensington  pays  you  less  than  Belgravia  and 
Mayfair,  never  mind.  Better  take  a  small  fee  than 
stop  at  home,  earning  nothing." 

All  of  which  went  to  prove  to  the  shrewd  young 
man  that,  if  he  had  set  his  feet  upon  the  first  steps  of 
the  ladder,  he  had  not,  so  far,  mounted  very  high  up. 
If  the  great  Bauquel,  who  had  now  made  it  up  with 
Degraux,  condescended  to  play  in  South  Kensington 
at  all,  he  would  demand  a  higher  fee  than  he  obtained 
in  Mayfair,  penalising  the  less  fashionable  quarter  for 
the  honour  of  his  services. 

Brother  and  sister,  for  Anita  was  no  less  shrewd 
than  her  brother,  and  had  a  fund  of  common  sense, 
argued  the  matter  out  many  times,  now  inclining  one 
way,  now  another. 

The  present  was  distinctly  satisfactory:  it  meant 
absolute  wealth  compared  with  the  penury  of  the  old 
days.  The  question  was,  would  it  last?  Was  he 
just,  in  a  secondary  sort  of  way,  the  fashion  of  the 
moment  in  certain  circumscribed  circles,  to  be  shortly 
superseded  by  somebody  who  had  scored  in  a  night, 
by  some  fortunate  accident,  the  same  kind  of  sudden 
success  ?  In  short,  should  he  take  that  letter  to  the 
Baron  Salmoros  or  not  ?     That  was  the  vital  question. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  65 

In  his  undecided  mood,  lie  sought  Degraux,  who  re- 
ceived him  with  great  cordiality,  but  who  had  now 
made  it  up  so  effectually  with  the  still  powerful  Bau- 
quel  that  he  had  no  opening  for  another  violinist. 

"  Privately,  my  friend,  I  agree  with  your  old  Papa 
Peron  that  as  an  artist  pure  and  simple  you  are  the 
superior  of  Bauquel.  But  what  can  one  do?  Bau- 
quel  has  got  the  name,  he  has  ten  years'  reputation 
behind  him.  At  any  moment  he  may  be  relegated  to 
a  back  seat,  but  at  present  he  fills,  he  draws.  He  is 
an  asset  to  an  impresario.  In  a  word,  he  represents 
gate  money.  His  name  on  an  announcement  fills  the 
house.  Five  years  hence,  I  predict  it  will  be  very 
different." 

Nello  pondered  these  wise  and  sensible  sayings. 
"  Do  you  think  it  possible.  Monsieur,  that  I  could 
gain  the  standing  of  Bauquel?  You  have  seen  and 
known  so  much,  I  can  believe  in  your  opinion." 

The  great  director  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  You 
ask  me  a  little  too  much,  my  friend.  I  cannot  see 
into  the  future.  You  have  made  a  very  considerable 
success,  you  created  quite  a  respectable  furore  on  that 
night  —  but "  he  paused  significantly. 

"  But !  "  repeated  ISTello  quietly.  "  Please  be  quite 
frank  with  me.     I  want  to  hear  the  truth." 

"  I  cannot  say  that  you  have  progressed  much  since 
that  night.  You  ask  me  to  speak  frankly,  and  I 
should  say,  on  the  contrary,  that  you  have  gone  back 
a  bit.  No  doubt  you  are  doing  quite  well  at  these 
private  concerts  —  that  is  Mosenstein's  specialty. 
But,  supposing  I  could  ask  you  to  play  for  me  at  my 
next  big  concert,  which  I  can't  because  Bauquel  will 


66  THE  INTRIGUERS 

be  there,  I  doubt  if  you  would  repeat  tbe  success." 

'*  In  a  word,  I  am  far  from  being  in  the  first,  even 
in  the  second  rank  ?  "  queried  Nello.  His  life  had 
been  so  full  of  disappointments,  that  he  had  become 
hardened  in  the  process.  He  did  not  seem  as  dis- 
turbed as  Degraux  had  expected  he  would  be  by  this 
uncomfortable  cold  douche  of  plain  speaking. 

"  Fairly  well  on  in  the  second  rank.  Mark  you,  I 
am  not  speaking  of  your  standing  as  an  artist,  but 
just  from  the  box-office  point  of  view.  You  see,  one 
can  never  tell  what  goes  to  the  making  of  a  first-clast 
success.  An  inferior  person  often  achieves  it,  a 
genius  as  often  as  not  misses  it." 

He  did  not  mention  names,  but  !N^ello  guessed,  while 
he  was  speaking,  Degraux  had  the  great  Bauquel  in 
mind,  who,  he  admitted,  was  the  inferior  artist. 

The  young  man  looked  a  little  downcast,  in  spite  of 
his  stoicism.     Degraux  clapped  him  on  the  shoulder. 

"  !N^ow,  my  young  friend,  cheer  up.  After  all,  you 
are  not  doing  so  badly.  Live  as  frugally  as  you  can, 
put  by  every  penny  you  can  save.  If  things  go  well, 
still  sava  If  they  go  badly,  you  will  have  something 
put  by.  You  remember  our  last  conversation  here, 
eh?  I  told  you  to  join,  as  quickly  as  possible,  the 
ranks  of  the  exploiters  instead  of  remaining  in  the 
vast  army  of  the  exploited." 

Nello  remembered  that  conversation  well.  De- 
graux's  advice  had  made  a  great  impression  on  him 
at  the  time, 

"  That  is  precisely  what  I  am  here  for,  Monsieur  — 
to  ask  you  to  give  me  a  little  more  of  your  valuable 
advice  on  a  very  important  matter.     I  am  not  at  all 


THE  I:N"TEIGUEKS  67 

sure  about  the  rewards  of  the  simply  artistic  career." 

"  Tell  me  what  is  in  your  mind,"  answered  De- 
graux  kindly.  It  was  not  the  first  time  in  his  long 
and  brilliant  career  that  he  had  been  called  upon  to 
act  as  the  arbiter  of  a  young  man's  destiny. 

Nello  told  him  of  the  note  addressed  to  himself,  of 
the  letter  directed  to  the  Baron  Salmoros,  whom 
Peron  apparently  claimed  as  an  old  and  attached 
friend. 

Degraux  elevated  his  eyebrows  at  the  mention  of 
that  world-known  name. 

"  Salmoros !  One  of  the  greatest  of  European  fin- 
anciers. He  knows  the  secrets  of  pretty  well  every 
Cabinet,"  he  remarked,  when  the  young  man  had  fin- 
ished his  narrative.  "  Your  old  Papa  Peron  must, 
at  some  time,  have  been  a  person  of  more  than  ordi- 
nary distinction.  You  have  no  knowledge  of  the  con- 
tents of  that  sealed  letter  ?  " 

"  None,  Monsieur.  I  can  only  guess  that  I  have 
been  recommended  to  the  Baron's  protection." 

"  Of  course,"  said  Degraux.  "  It  is  a  pity  this 
very  kind  old  man  was  not  a  little  bit  more  commu- 
nicative before  his  death,  or  in  his  last  letter  to 
you." 

"  I  think  he  was  a  little  fond  of  mystery,  Mon- 
sieur." 

"  Evidently,"  said  Degraux  drily,  "  Possibly, 
when  you  knew  him  —  you  told  me  the  acquaintance 
was  very  brief  —  he  had  begun  to  go  a  little  off  his 
head.  Well,  let  us  see  how  the  matter  stands.  On 
the  one  side,  satisfaction  with  your  present  lot,  with 
all  the  possibilities  opening  out  to  you.     On  the  other 


68  THE  INTEIGUERS 

hand,  the  presentation  of  this  letter,  with  the  chance 
of  the  Baron's  patronage.  If  we  could  only  have  a 
peep  into  that  letter  we  should  know  better  where  we 
were." 

"  But  that  is  impossible,  Monsieur.  We  can  only 
guess  that  the  kind  old  Papa  has  recommended  me  in 
the  warmest  terms." 

"  Yes,  we  may  assume  that.  Then,  I  think,  my 
young  friend,  there  is  only  one  obvious  course.  You 
take  that  letter  to  the  Baron.  When  he  has  read  it, 
he  will  either  put  you  off  with  smooth  promises,  or 
propose  a  certain  line  of  action  out  of  deference  to  his 
old  friend's  request.  If  he  should  put  before  you  any 
proposition  that  does  not  recommend  itself  to  you, 
you  can  easily  decline  and  stick  to  your  present  ca- 


reer." 


The  advice  was  sound  and  sensible.  By  presenting 
the  letter  to  the  eminent  financier  there  was  nothing 
to  lose.  On  the  other  hand,  there  might  be  something 
to  gain. 

"  Unfortunately,  Monsieur,  I  do  not  know  the 
Baron  personally.  I  understand  he  is  a  very  busy 
man,  and  access  to  him  a  very  difficult  matter." 

"  That  is  so,"  admitted  Degraux.  "  I  know  him 
just  a  little.  I  dare  say  you  have  heard  that  he  is  a 
great  lover  of  music,  and  we  have  exchanged  a  few 
words  now  and  then.  But  I  fear  my  acquaintance 
with  him  would  hardly  excuse  a  formal  note  of  intro- 
duction. But  stay,  you  know  the  Princess  Zouroff 
and  Lady  Glendover,  at  whose  house  you  played 
latelv.  He  is  a  friend  of  both.  Either  of  these  will 
give  you  what  you  want.     If  not,  come  and  see  me 


THE  INTEIGUERS  69 

again  and  I  will  think  of  somebody  I  know  fairly 
well,  who  will  do  it  as  a  favour  to  me." 

"  Both  these  ladies  occurred  to  me,"  said  Nello. 
"  The  Princess  is  kindness  itself ;  I  am  sure  she 
would  do  it  at  once.  But,  in  case  of  failure,  I  will 
fall  back  upon  you." 

With  many  thanks  for  his  good  advice,  ISTello  took 
leave  of  the  warm-hearted  director.  Yes,  Degraux 
was  quite  right.  He  would  present  that  letter  as  soon 
as  possible.  He  would  write  to  the  Princess  Zouroff 
to-morrow. 

But  fate  willed  it  that  the  Princess's  good  offices 
were  not  required.  He  was  playing  that  night  at  the 
house  of  a  certain  Mrs.  Raby,  who  lived  in  Kensington 
Gore. 

Mrs.  Eaby  was  a  widow  of  about  fifty  years  of 
age,  of  good  family  and  considerable  fortune  of  her 
own.  When  a  romantic  girl  of  twenty-two  she  had 
eloped  with  a  man  some  twenty  years  her  senior,  who 
happened  to  be  one  of  the  greatest,  if  not  absolutely 
the  greatest,  pianists  of  his  day.  For  a  long  time  her 
parents  and  friends  held  aloof  from  her.  Artists 
were  all  very  well  in  their  way,  but  Constance  Paby, 
with  her  money  and  good  looks  —  she  was  an  heiress 
through  her  godmother  —  ought  to  have  made  a  bril- 
liant match. 

But  Mrs.  Rabv  loved  her  long-haired  musician,  the 
more  perhaps  for  the  fact  that  he  was  an  Englishman, 
and  never  repented  her  choice.  And  in  time,  parents 
and  friends  condescended  to  bury  the  hatchet  and 
came  to  her  house,  exchanging  frigid  courtesies  with 
the  artistic  husband. 


70  THE  INTRIGUERS 

To  their  drawing-rooms  flocked  the  elite  of  the 
musical  world  —  great  sopranos,  great  contraltos, 
nearly  every  artist  of  eminence.  And  in  that  charm- 
ing house  in  Kensington  Gore  they  gave  for  nothing 
what  they  demanded  high  fees  for  elsewhere,  for  was 
not  the  host  one  of  their  own  world,  and  had  they  not 
adopted  his  charming  wife  as  one  of  themselves  ? 

Mr.  Raby  had  died  some  ten  years  ago,  but  his 
widow  still  maintained  the  fame  of  those  musical  eve- 
nings. And  to  those  who  had  still  their  way  to  make, 
an  appearance  in  Mrs.  Raby's  drawing-rooms  con- 
ferred a  cachet. 

Mosenstein  had  secured  an  invitation  for  his  young 
client.  There  was  no  fee.  When  Nello  had  de- 
murred to  this,  not  quite  understanding  the  situation, 
the  astute  agent  had  silenced  his  objections  at  once, 

"  You  do  not  understand,  my  young  friend.  Eng- 
land is  a  very  funny  place.  A  lot  is  done  here  for 
love.  Mrs.  Raby  occupies  a  unique  position.  Sup- 
posing you  were  unknown,  to  play  at  one  of  her  eve- 
nings would  secure  you  a  twenty-guinea  engagement 
in  South  Kensington.  Patti,  Lucca,  Nielsen  have 
sung  there  for  friendship.  Sarasate  has  played  there 
for  friendship.  My  friend,  if  you  are  wise,  you  will 
be  glad  that  I  have  procured  you  an  invitation." 

Nello  made  no  further  objection.  Mosenstein 
knew  the  ropes  as  well  as  anybody.  If  he  urged  him 
to  go  to  the  house  in  Kensington  Gore  and  play  for 
nothing  he  had  a  wise  motive.  Mrs.  Raby  was  evi- 
dently a  power  in  the  musical  world. 

The  drawing-rooms  were  crowded,  mostly  with 
musical  people.     But  there  were  a  few  others  from 


THE  INTKIGUERS  71 

another  world;  and  amongst  these,  Nello  presently 
discovered  his  patroness,  Lady  Glendover,  who  came 
here  out  of  sheer  love  of  music.  The  Countess  had 
to  pay  five  hundred  or  more  for  what  Mrs.  Raby  got 
for  nothing. 

She  greeted  IsTello  kindly  and  invited  him  to  sit 
beside  her. 

"  Do  you  know  many  people  here  ?  "  she  asked,  as 
she  made  way  for  him  on  the  sofa. 

"  So  far  as  I  can  see,  nobody  but  yourself, 
Madame." 

"  Oh,  then,  we  will  take  compassion  on  each  other 
and  keep  each  other  company  —  at  least  till  you  have 
to  play.     I  suppose  you  are  on  the  programme." 

"  I  believe  so.  My  agent,  Mosenstein,  is  arrang- 
ing matters,  and  he  will  tell  me  when  I  am  wanted." 
"  Very  well ;  until  that  moment  arrives  we  can  sit 
still  and  chat.  I  don't  know  very  many  people  either : 
just  a  few  artists  who  have  appeared  at  my  house. 
The  Princess  Zouroff  sometimes  comes,  but  she  is  not 
here  to-night.  Some  evenings,  of  course  very  late,  it 
is  as  good  as  one  of  Paul  Degraux's  concerts,  when 
all  the  great  stars  have  come  on.  About  one  o'clock 
in  the  morning  they  begin  to  warble  and  outplay  each 
other.  Of  course  you  know  Mrs.  Raby  married  the 
greatest  pianist  of  his  day.  They  perform  for  her 
out  of  camaraderie." 

They  talked  for  a  little  time,  when  the  Countess 

suddenly  exclaimed :     "  Ah,  there  is  somebody  from 

my  own  world,  the  Baron  Salmoros.     There  is  such 

a  crush,  he  does  not  see  me.     Do  you  know  him  ?  " 

Nello's  breath  came  quickly.     '^  No,  Madame,  but 


72  THE  INTRIGUERS 

at  the  moment  he  is  the  one  man  in  the  world  that  I 
particularly  want  to  know." 

Lady  Glendover  looked  at  him  sharply,  but  she  was 
too  polite  to  inquire  the  cause  of  his  sudden  agitation. 

"  I  will  introduce  you  to  him  with  pleasure ;  but  it 
is  no  use  running  after  him  in  this  crowd,  we  shall 
never  catch  him.  I  know  his  methods,  he  comes  here 
very  often,  he  is  a  great  amateur.  He  will  exchange 
greetings  with  the  many  artists  he  knows,  making  a 
tour  of  the  rooms,  and  then  he  will  see  me  and  come 
to  a  halt  in  front  of  us." 

Lady  Glendover's  prognostication  of  the  Baron's 
movements  was  a  correct  one.  After  what  seemed 
to  Nello,  watching  his  slow  progress  round  the  room, 
an  interminable  period,  Salmoros  stopped  before  them 
and  bowed  over  the  Countess's  outstretched  hand. 

"  Delighted  to  see  you,  dear  lady.  I  have  just  met 
Mosenstein,  who  always  arranges  the  programme. 
There  are  not  so  many  stars  as  usual  to-night,  but  he 
promises  us  some  very  good  music." 

While  he  was  speaking  the  young  Italian  took  stock 
of  the  great  financier.  A  massive  head,  sunnounted 
with  a  mass  of  snow-white  hair,  a  patriarchal  beard 
of  the  same  hue,  a  tall,  sturdy  figure.  ISTello  guessed 
his  age  at  seventy,  but  the  brightness  of  his  glance, 
the  upright  form,  gave  little  sign  of  age.  He  went 
by  the  evidence  of  the  snow-white  hair  and  beard. 

After  a  brief  conversation  the  Countess  turned  to 
young  Corsini. 

"  This  gentleman  wishes  to  make  your  acquaint- 
ance. Baron.     Signer  !N"ello  Corsini.     You  will  no 


THE  INTEIGUERS  73 

doubt  remember  him  at  the  last  Covent  Garden  Con- 
cert." 

The  Baron  held  out  his  hand  and  his  smile  was 
very  kindly.  "  I  recollect  you  well,  Signor.  You 
played  very  beautifully;  you  took  the  place  of  Bau- 
quel,  who  played  our  good  friend  Degraux  a  rather 
scurvy  trick." 

Xello  bowed.  He  felt  very  embarrassed-  The 
Countess  had  discreetly  turned  her  head,  so  as  not 
to  appear  to  listen  to  their  conversation.  The  young 
violinist  had,  no  doubt,  something  of  a  private  nature 
to  impart. 

"  I  have  taken  advantage  of  the  Countess's  kindness 
to  make  your  acquaintance,  Baron.  The  fact  is,  I 
have  in  my  possession  a  letter  addressed  to  you,  a  few 
days  before  his  death,  by  a  friend  of  mine,  a  Mon- 
sieur Peron.     Did  you  know  anybody  of  that  name  ?  " 

"  Peron,  Peron !  "  repeated  the  Baron,  then  he 
shook  his  snow-white  head.  "  No ;  that  name  recalls 
nobody  to  me." 

"  I  have  reason  to  believe  it  was  an  assumed  one 
and  that  he  was  a  great  friend  of  yours  some  years 
ago.  I  am  charged  to  deliver  it  personally  into  your 
hands." 

The  bright  eyes  took  on  an  alert  expression. 
"  You  have  not  got  it  with  you,  I  suppose  ?  " 

"  No,  sir,  I  would  not  risk  carrying  it  about  with 
me.  Would  it  be  possible  for  me  to  see  you  at  your 
office,  or  anywhere  else,  for  a  few  moments  ?  " 

The  Baron  thought  a  second.  "  Certainly.  Come 
to  Old  Broad  Street  to-morrow  morning,  say  at  eleven 


74:  THE  INTRIGUERS 

o'clock.     Please  be  punctual,  as  my  day  is  pretty  well 
cut  up  with  appointments." 

"  At  eleven  to  the  minute,  sir,"  was  Corsini's  an- 
swer. After  a  few  minutes'  chat  with  the  Countess, 
in  which  he  tactfully  included  the  young  violinist, 
the  Baron  pursued  his  tour  of  the  drawing-rooms,  ex- 
changing numerous  greetings,  for  he  knew  every  artist 
in  London. 


CHAPTER  VII 

The  next  morning  Corsini  presented  himself  at  the 
palatial  premises  in  Old  Broad  Street  where  the 
Baron  evolved  his  vast  financial  schemes.  After  he 
had  waited  in  an  anteroom  for  a  couple  of  minutes,  a 
slim  young  man,  who  looked  like  a  confidential  secre- 
tary, appeared  from  an  inner  apartment,  and  led  him 
down  a  long  corridor  to  Salmoros's  private  sanctum. 

It  was  a  handsome  apartment,  beautifully  fur- 
nished. Your  feet  sank  in  the  thick  Turkey  carpet; 
the  easy-chairs  were  models  of  artistic  design  and  com- 
fort. There  were  only  a  few  pictures  on  the  walls, 
but  each  one  was  a  gem.  The  Baron  was  a  lover  of 
art  in  every  shape  and  form,  and  one  of  the  best- 
known  collectors  in  Europe.  In  his  business,  as  well 
as  his  leisure  hours,  he  loved  to  surround  himself  with 
beautiful  things. 

Few,  save  a  few  old  friends,  knew  anything  of  his 
family  or  antecedents.  The  name  suggested  a  Greek 
origin,  although  of  course  most  of  his  enemies  would 
have  it  that  he  was  a  pure  Jew.  Tlis  fine,  clear-cut 
features,  however,  had  no  affinity  to  those  of  that 
celebrated  race. 

He  smiled  kindly  at  the  young  man,  and  shook 

hands  cordially  with  him:  he  had  the  greatest  respect 

for    all    persons   connected    directly   with    the   arts. 

After  a  few  commonplace  remarks,  he  asked  for  the 

letter. 

75 


76  THE  INTIIIGUERS 

Nello  handed  it  to  him,  and  at  the  same  time 
showed  him  the  glittering  Order  of  St.  Louis. 

"  This  is  one  of  the  few  things  my  poor  old  friend 
had  in  his  possession  when  he  died  in  that  poor  house 
in  Dean  Street,  Baron.  I  have  no  doubt,  in  my  own 
mind,  that  he  was  once  a  man  of  position  and  dis- 
tinction." 

The  Baron  glanced  at  the  Order,  and  nodded  his 
head.  It  was  evident  common  persons  did  not  come 
into  possession  of  such  valuable  things.  Then  he 
opened  the  letter,  and  read. 

When  he  had  perused  it  and  laid  it  down  on  the 
desk  in  front  of  him,  a  strangely  soft  expression 
had  come  over  his  fine,  intellectual  face. 

"  My  poor  old  friend  Jean !  "  he  murmured  in  a 
low  voice.  "How  very  strange!  I  believed  him 
dead  long  ago.  There  was  a  rumour  that  he  had 
been  shot  in  those  terrible  days  of  the  Commune. 
Poor  Jean !     My  once  dear  friend  Jean  !  " 

"  I  am  right  in  saying  that  the  name  of  Peron 
was  assumed  ?  "  asked  Nello  timidly. 

The  Baron  bent  his  keen  glance  on  him.  "You 
know  absolutely  nothing  of  his  real  histor)^  ?  " 

"  For  the  purposes  of  identification,  nothing,  sir. 
The  only  thing  that  he  ever  let  drop  was  that  long 
ago  he  had  been  a  pianist  of  eminence.  That  I 
could  well  believe,  for  even  at  the  age  at  which  I 
knew  him,  his  touch  was  that  of  a  master." 

"  Ah,  that  is  all  you  could  gather.  Well,  my  poor 
old  friend  was  always  a  little  fond  of  mystery.  His 
real  name  was  Jean  Villefort,  and  he  was  one  of  the 
finest  and  most  successful  artists  of  his  generation. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  77 

You  are  a  musician  yourself;  you  must  have  heard 
of  him,  although,  of  course,  he  was  long  hefore  your 
time." 

Yes,  ISTello  had  heard  of  him  as  one  of  the  great 
masters  of  the  past.  "  Then  he  must  have  amassed 
a  great  fortune,  Baron.  How  came  it  that  he  died 
so  poor  and  friendless  ?  " 

The  Baron  spoke  slowly,  in  a  musing  tone,  as  if 
following  the  thread  of  his  recollections.  "  Yes,  he 
made  plenty  of  money  in  his  time;  he  had  a  tre- 
mendous vogue  on  the  Continent  and  was  a  special 
favourite  of  iN'apoleon  the  Third;  I  do  not  think  he 
ever  achieved  much  success  in  England  or  America. 
I  know  he  was  greatly  dissatisfied  with  both  his 
tours  in  those  countries." 

The  Baron  paused,  much  to  N^ello's  disappoint- 
ment. He  was  eager  to  know  all  the  details  of  the 
past  life  of  this  Strang?  old  man  who  had  passed 
away  under  such  tragic  circumstances.  Especially 
curious  was  he  to  learn  what  had  become  of  all  his 
•wealth. 

Salmoros  looked  up  and  caught  the  gleam  of  in- 
terrogation in  the  young  man's  eyes. 

"  Naturally  you  are  curious.  Well,  no  doubt  my 
poor  old  friend  made  plenty  in  his  time;  but  he  was 
very  lavish,  charitable,  and  open-handed.  Still,  his 
fortune  could  have  endured  the  strain  placed  upon 
it  by  the  possession  of  such  amiable  qualities.  Alas! 
he  was  a  confirmed  gambler;  the  racecourse  and  the 
card-table  swallowed  up  any  surplus  he  ever  pos- 
sessed." 

"  T  understand,"  said  Nello.     "  And  when  was  it, 


78  THE  INTRIGUERS 

may  I  ask,  Baron,  that  you  lost  sight  of  him  ?  *' 

"  He  disappeared  from  Paris  —  you  may  say, 
from  the  world  —  about  twenty-five  years  ago,  or 
thereabouts.  I  was  one  of  his  most  intimate  friends, 
although  he  was  about  seven  years  my  senior.  From 
that  day  to  this,  to  the  moment  that  you  have  brought 
me  this  letter,  I  have  never  heard  a  word  from  him. 
His  sudden  disappearance  was  a  nine  days'  wonder, 
but  the  world  rolled  on  and  the  great  artist,  Jean 
Villefort,  was  forgotten. 

"  That  sudden  disappearance,  the  abandonment  of 
such  a  brilliant  career  in  a  moment  of  despair,  was, 
I  need  hardly  say,  the  outcome  of  a  tragedy.  Also 
needless  to  add  that,  as  usual  in  such  cases,  a  woman 
was  at  the  bottom  of  it.  The  few  details  that  filtered 
out  enabled  us  to  piece  together  certain  things." 

"  And  the  certain  things  ?  "  queried  Nello  eagerly. 

Salmoros  spoke  in  his  low,  deliberate  voice  —  the 
voice  of  the  man  who,  with  his  vast  experience  of 
the  world,  had  known  and  seen  everything,  and  was 
surprised  at  nothing. 

"  Let  me  put  it  to  you  as  shortly  as  possible.  An 
elderly  husband,  married  to  a  charming  and  beauti- 
ful young  woman  some  fifteen,  perhaps  twenty,  years 
his  junior.  The  husband,  a  member  of  the  old 
French  nobility,  a  little  dull,  not  gifted  with  any 
mentality.  The  wife,  ardent,  romantic,  a  lover  of 
music  and  all  the  arts,  not  a  single  bond  of  union  be- 
tween her  and  her  unappreciative  husband.  You 
follow  me?  You  are  an  artist  yourself.  You  will 
soon  see  the  beginning  of  the  romance  that  ended  in 


THE  INTRIGUERS  T9 

tragedy.     In  a  very  inspired  mood,  you  could  ex- 
press it  on  your  violin." 

Nello  nodded.  His  life  had  been  so  hard  up  to 
the  present  moment,  that  he  had  enjoyed  scant  leisure 
to  indulge  in  the  softer  emotions  of  life.  But,  in  a 
vague  sort  of  way,  he  could  appreciate  something  of 
the  tragedy  of  Papa  Peron's  past. 

"  Tell  me  something  more,  if  you  please.  I  am 
very  interested." 

Salmoros  continued  in  his  slow,  deliberate  tones. 
"  The  femme  incomprtse^  a  more  or  less  bovine  hus- 
band, a  man  almost  as  old  as  her  husband,  but  ardent 
and  impetuous,  ten  years  younger  in  spirit  than  his 
real  age.  What  happens  ?  The  woman  falls  in  love 
with  him  for  his  genius.  He  bewitches  her  with  his 
beautiful  art.  With  his  deft  and  skilled  fingers, 
and  by  Heaven  he  was  almost  the  finest  pianist  I 
have  ever  heard,  he  drew  out  from  her  her  very  soul." 

"  Ah !  I  can  understand  he  must  have  been  very 
wonderful,"  interjected  Nello.  "  Even  at  his  age, 
there  were  times  when  he  thrilled  me." 

Salmoros  nodded.  "  You  can  understand  the 
spell  he  would  cast  over  a  comparatively  yoimg 
woman.  Well,  let  us  get  to  the  end  of  this.  My 
poor  old  friend  Jean  sleeps  in  peace,  why  wake  up 
those  old  faint  memories?  " 

"  But  they  are  very  interesting.  Baron,"  urged 
Corsini. 

"  I  know,  my  young  friend.  Even  I  have  a  melan- 
choly interest  in  them,  because  they  take  me  back  to 
the  days  of  comparative  youth.     Well,  to  be  brief  — 


80  THE  INTRIGUERS 

a  romance  in  a  nutshell.  A  violent  altercation  be- 
tween husband  and  lover,  a  duel,  the  husband  is 
wounded,  not  mortally,  carried  to  his  house.  The 
charming  young  wife,  innocent,  or  perhaps  guilty, 
cause  of  all  this  dire  misfortune,  commits  suicide. 
Jean  Villefort,  apprised  of  her  tragic  end,  disap- 
pears. He  might  have  thrown  himself  into  the 
Seine.  Eor  days  his  friends  searched  for  him  in  the 
morgue  to  no  purpose.  And,  through  you,  I  have 
at  last  unearthed  the  mystery.  Jean  Villefort  did 
not  avail  himself  of  the  coward's  resource." 

"  Ah,  Baron,  dear  Monsieur  Peron  —  I  prefer  to 
call  him  by  that  name  —  was  no  coward,"  interjected 
Nello  eagerly. 

"  I  quite  agree.  He  left  a  world  which  held  no 
further  joys  or  triumphs  for  him.  Mon  Dieu,  what 
a  strange  temperament !  Why  don't  these  fellows 
make  art  and  sentiment  a  part  of  their  life  only,  and 
put  in  some  common  sense  on  the  other  side  ?  " 

"  You  speak  from  the  great  financier's  point  of 
view.  Baron  ?  "  suggested  Nello  shrewdly. 

Salmoros  smiled  his  slow,  appreciative  smile.  "  I 
see,  young  man,  you  have  got  a  head  on  your  shoul- 
ders.    Well  now,  let  us  come  to  this  letter." 

Nello  was  only  too  anxious  that  he  should. 

"  I  am  waiting  for  that.  Baron.  Of  course  I  can 
only  guess  at  the  contents  that  he  has  recommended 
me  to  you." 

"  That  he  does  in  the  warmest  terms,  and  for  the 
sake  of  our  old  friendship  I  am  prepared  to  comply 
with  his  request.  In  this  letter,  which  is  not  dated 
—  he  explains  that  by  the  fact  that  he  does  not  know 


THE  INTRIGUERS  81 

how  soon  his  death  will  take  place  —  he  states  that 
you  are  hoping  to  establish  yourself  as  an  artist,  that 
he  has  already  secured  you  a  small,  but  fairly  re- 
munerative, engagement  at  the  Parthenon." 

"  That  is  quite  true,  sir." 

"  Then,  I  take  it,  this  letter  was  antecedent  to 
your  considerable  success  at  the  Covent  Garden  Con- 
cert. In  that  comparatively  short  space  of  time, 
your  remuneration  has  gone  up  by  leaps  and 
bounds  ?  " 

Nello  assented  for  the  second  time.  "  Perfectly 
correct,  sir." 

"  Then  how  do  we  stand  ?  Of  course,  if  you  were 
quite  a  poor  man,  I  would  find  you  a  post  at  once  for 
the  sake  of  my  old  friendship  with  Jean  Villefort. 
But,  candidly,  do  you  want  my  assistance?  I  am 
not  dissatisfied  with  my  lot,  Signor  Corsini,  I  can 
assure  you " 

And  ISTello  murmured,  half  under  his  breath :  "  I 
should  think  you  were  not,  Baron,  you  a  financier  of 
European  renown." 

A  whimsical  smile  overspread  the  other  man's  fea- 
tures. "And  yet  I  will  tell  you  a  little  secret. 
Music  is  a  passion  with  me.  I  am  a  financier  by 
profession,  but  art,  art  alono  absorbs  my  soul.  I 
have  tried,  oh  how  hard !  to  be  an  executant  on  more 
than  one  instrument.  Signor  Corsini,  I  would  pay 
you  a  hundred  thousand  pounds  to-morrow,  if  you 
could  teach  me  to  play  that  exquisite  little  romance 
as  you  played  it  last  night.  I  feel  every  note  in  my 
soul,  but  when  my  feeble  fingers  touch  the  strings^ 
they  are  powerless." 


82  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Nello  looked  at  him  compassionately.  There  was 
in  his  composition  the  hard  Latin  fibre;  but  here  was 
a  new  experience  for  him.  Here  was  a  man  who  had 
achieved  eminence  in  one  of  the  most  difficult  pro- 
fessions, a  man  who  could  write  a  cheque  for  one  or 
two  millions.  And  here  he  was,  lamenting  his  in- 
capacity to  succeed  in  an  art  for  which  nature  had 
given  him  no  equipment. 

"  It  is  very  sad,  Baron,"  breathed  the  young  Italian 
softly.  "  But  in  your  case,  the  gods  have  given  so 
generously.  Why  should  you  complain  that  they 
have  withheld  this  one  small  gift,  the  gift  of  the 
executant  ?  " 

"  You  call  it  a  small  gift,  do  you  ?  "  replied  Sal- 
moros  in  his  deep,  sonorous  tones.  "  I  call  it  the 
greatest  gift  of  all."  He  paused,  reflected  a  second, 
and  then  became  again  the  man  of  affairs. 

"  Now,  Signer  Corsini,  to  your  immediate  busi- 
ness. How  can  I  help  you  for  my  good  old  Jean's 
sake  and  your  own  ?  What  are  your  own  views  as  to 
the  present  situation  ?     Are  you  satisfied,  or  not  ?  " 

Corsini  was  quite  frank.  "  In  a  way,  yes ;  in  a 
way,  no.  Degraux  and  dear  Papa  Peron  both  gave 
me  very  good  advice " 

"The  sum  of  which  was ?"  interjected  the 

white-haired  Salmoros. 

"  That  unless  you  make  a  very  great  success,  the 
artistic  career  is  of  all  the  most  uncertain." 

Salmoros  nodded  his  massive  head.  "  I  quite 
agree.  Poor  dear  old  Jean  was  shrewder  than  I 
thought.  And  yet,  how  simple  in  some  things. 
Why  did  he  not  apply  to  me  instead  of  drawing  his 


THE  INTRIGUERS  83 

last  breath  in  that  miserable  house  ?     I  would  have 
given  him  an  annuity  for  life." 

"  I  am  sure  you  would,  sir,  but  the  dear  old  Papa 
was  too  proud  to  accept  charity.  Surely  it  was  to 
his  credit  that  he  did  not  sponge  on  his  old  friends  ?  " 

"  Just  like  him,  just  like  him,  a  dear,  kindly,  im- 
practicable creature.  Well,  now  to  your  affairs. 
Do  you  want  to  stick  to  the  artistic  line,  or  not  ?  " 

"  Not  if  there  is  anything  better  in  prospect, 
Baron,"  answered  the  shrewd  Nello. 

The  Baron  swept  him  with  his  keen  glance. 

"  I  am  rather  a  judge  of  men.  You  seem  just  the 
sort  of  man  who  would  make  good.  Let  me  think  a 
little.  There  is  something  running  in  my  mind. 
You  might  serve  my  immediate  purposes,  and  at  the 
same  time,  I  might  help  you  in  your  artistic  career. 
You  might  have  two  strings  to  your  bow.  What  do 
you  think  ? " 

"  I  am  quite  in  your  hands,  Baron,"  was  Nello's 
answer. 

The  mind  of  the  great  financier  worked  swiftly. 
He  took  up  two  letters,  one  in  French,  the  other  in 
Italian. 

"  Take  these  over  to  the  table  by  the  window,  and 
translate  the  French  into  Italian  and  the  Italian  into 
French.     Take  your  time,  but  do  them  well." 

Nello  complied  with  his  patron's  request.  Sal- 
moros  was  evidently  a  man  who  thought  swiftly. 

While  Nello  was  engaged  on  his  task,  the  Baron's 
private  secretary  entered. 

"  The  Prince  Zouroff  wishes  to  see  you,  sir." 

The  Baron  frowned.     There  were  certain  persons 


84  THE  ll^TKiGUEllS 

in  the  great  world  who  were  in  his  good  books.  The 
Russian  Ambassador  was  certainly  not.  He  knew  a 
little  too  much  about  him. 

He  held  up  a  warning  finger  to  his  secretary  and 
crossed  over  to  Nello. 

"  The  Prince  Zouroff  is  asking  for  an  interview. 
You  have  played  at  the  Russian  Embassy;  do  you 
want  to  meet  him  ?  " 

"Ko,"  said  Nello  shortly;  "I  don't  think  I  do. 
I  have  heard  that  he  is  a  bit  of  a  brute." 

"  Quite  right,  but,  on  account  of  his  position,  we 
have  to  cotton  to  him  in  a  way.  With  your  head 
over  your  desk  you  won't  see  each  other." 

The  private  secretary  ushered  in  Prince  ZouroflF, 
the  Russian  Ambassador. 

The  Prince  was  a  very  overbearing  and  truculent 
personage ;  but  he  knew  full  well  that  even  ambassa- 
dors have  to  preserve  a  modest  demeanour,  even  as 
their  sovereigns,  in  the  presence  of  all-powerful  fin- 
anciers. 

"  Greetings  to  you,  my  dear  Salmoros !  "  The 
Prince  was  always  flamboyant.  "  The  Czar  has  re- 
called me  to  St.  Petersburg." 

Salmoros  affected  surprise.  But  he  was  not  sur- 
prised in  the  least.  He  had  received  intimation  of 
the  news  two  days  ago  from  the  Russian  Foreign 
Office  itself. 

"  Ah,  I  have  heard  the  rumour,"  he  said  in  his 
slow,  suave  accents.  "  You  are  to  be  Governor  of 
Kieff,  a  post  you  have  long  been  coveting,  eh  ?  I  con- 
gratulate you,  my  dear  Prince,  although  your  friends 
in  London  will  be  very  sorry  to  lose  you." 


THE  ITs^TRIGUERS  85 

"  You  are  mistaken,"  replied  the  Ambassador 
shortly.  "  Though  I  have  tried  several  times  to  ob- 
tain the  governorship  of  Kieff  my  Imperial  Master 
will  not  give  it  to  me.  It  is  my  right  by  inheritance, 
because  my  estates  are  in  that  province.  I  hear  that 
I  may  be  appointed  Governor  of  Archangel ;  in  the 
meantime,  I  am  to  present  myself  at  the  Court  of 
St.  Petersburg," 

Salmoros  did  not  betray  by  a  flicker  of  the  eyelid 
that  the  information  was  priceless  to  him. 

Zouroff,  after  a  brief  sojourn  at  the  Court  of  St, 
Petersburg,  was  to  be  advanced  to  the  governorship 
of  Archangel. 

Salmoros  knew  what  this  meant.  The  Czar  was 
as  well  aware  of  the  fact  as  he  was.  ZourofF  was  a 
great  nobleman,  but  also  a  traitor.  The  Government 
was  going  to  proceed  by  easy  steps.  Prom  Arch- 
angel to  Siberia  and  life-long  imprisonment  would 
be  a  facile  progression  and  create  no  great  scandal, 
excite  very  little  comment.  Prince  Zouroff  would 
simply  disappear,  under  this  most  autocratic  of  all 
autocratic  governments. 

After  a  short  conversation  the  Baron  held  out  hia 
hand.  In  his  heart  he  had  a  little  sympathy  for  this 
truculent  Ambassador,  brute  as  he  was,  who  was  go  - 
ing  to  his  doom,  the  victim  of  an  iron  and  despotic 
Government.  P)Ut  perhaps  his  sympathy  was  wasted. 
Zouroff  was  a  traitor,  a  man  who  would  bite  the  hand 
that  fed  him. 

When  he  had  dismissed  the  Ambassador,  he  crossed 
over  to  the  desk  where  Ncllo  had  just  finished  his 
translations. 


86  THE  INTRIGUERS 

"  They  are  here,  Baron.     Will  you  read  them  ?  " 
The  Baron  read  them.     "  Very  good,  very  good, 
indeed,"  ho  said.     "  Now,  Signor  Corsini,  I  think 
you  and  I  will  have  a  little  serious  talk." 


CHAPTER  VIII 

The  Baron  led  Nello  from  the  desk  where  he  had 
been  writing  and  planted  him  in  one  of  the  numerous 
comfortable  chairs  scattered  about  the  handsomely 
furnished  room. 

"  Sit  you  down  there,  mv  young  friend,  while  I 
talk  to  you.  Now,  these  translations  are  very  good, 
and  they  have  started  an  idea  in  my  mind  which 
might  result  in  something  useful.  But,  in  the  first 
place,  I  should  like  to  know  something  of  your  own 
views.  Would  you  have  any  objection  to  leave  Eng- 
land for  a  space,  assuming  that  I  could  push  your 
musical  interests  in  another  country  ?  " 

It  did  not  take  the  young  man  long  to  consider. 
A  musician  is,  or  should  be,  cosmopolitan ;  to-day  in 
London,  next  week  in  Paris,  the  week  after  in 
Vienna  or  Berlin. 

"  One  country  is  as  good  to  me  as  another,  Baron, 
so  long  as  my  chance  of  a  career  is  equal." 

"  Good  1  "  The  financier  looked  at  his  watch. 
"  It  is  now  half-past  eleven,  and  I  have  a  deal  to  do 
between  now  and  one  o'clock.  Can  you  see  me  again 
at  one  ? " 

"  My  time  is  at  your  disposal,  sir.  I  will  return 
at  one." 

"  By  that  time  my  ideas  will  have  developed,  and 
I  may  be  able  to  put  before  you  a  definite  proposi- 
tion,"   said    Salmoros.     "  I   have   an   unpretentious 

87 


88  THE  IIS'TEIGUERS 

little  lunch  served  here  every  day  when  I  have  no 
outside  engagements.  You  will  honour  me  by  par- 
taking of  it.  I  cannot  speak  very  highly  of  the 
cuisine;  it  is  quite  simple,  but  I  shall  be  able  to  give 
you  a  very  decent  bottle  of  wine." 

"  A  thousand  thanks,  Baron."  Nello  smiled  in- 
wardly at  his  host's  apologies  for  the  simplicity  of  the 
meal.  This  rich  man  did  not  know,  and  perhaps  it 
was  better  he  should  not  know,  the  depths  of  the  pov- 
erty to  which  his  guest  had  descended,  how  often  he 
had  gone  to  bed  half  famished. 

At  thj  appointed  hour  he  returned.  The  same 
young  man  who  had  previously  received  him  showed 
him  into  a  small  room,  no  less  well  furnished  than 
the  other. 

A  round  dining-table  was  laid  for  two.  As  he 
liad  expected,  it  was  to  be  a  tete-a  tele  meal.  He  had 
just  time  to  notice  the  beautiful  appointments  of  the 
table,  the  snowy  napery,  the  rare  old  silver,  the  ex- 
quisite glass,  when  Salmoros  entered.  A  moment 
later  the  meal  was  served,  simple  in  its  elements,  but 
perfectly  cooked. 

The  wine  served  during  the  few  courses  was  cham- 
pagne. The  Baron  had  a  couple  of  glasses  at  both 
lunch  and  dinner;  he  believed  in  its  stimulating 
properties. 

Then  a  bottle  of  claret  of  the  finest  vintage  was 
put  on  the  table,  and  the  financier  produced  some 
perfect  cigars.  There  was  no  doubt  that  Baron  An- 
dreas Salmoros  had  a  great  respect  for  his  creature 
comforts.  A  man  of  tlie  profoundest  intellect,  he 
was  also  an  artist  and  an  epicure. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  89 

"  Now,  my  young  friend,"  he  said  as  he  puffed 
at  his  excellent  cigar  with  every  appearance  of  enjoy- 
ing to  the  full  its  flavour  and  perfume.  "  We  vs^ill 
talk.  Help  yourself  to  that  claret ;  I  can  recommend 
it." 

'NeUo  did  as  he  was  requested.  His  head  was 
swimming  a  little  from  the  unaccustomed  champagne, 
but  he  had  no  desire  to  forfeit  the  Baron's  good 
graces  by  proclaiming  himself  a  weakling.  If  this 
was  how  people  in  the  great  world  lived,  he  must 
pretend  to  be  used  to  it. 

He  waited  respectfully  for  the  great  man  to  un- 
fold the  plan  that  would  perhaps  change  his  whole 
life  and  open  out  to  him  a  new  world.  Of  course 
he  was  shrewd  enough  to  guess  that  whatever  was 
proposed  would  be  as  much  in  the  Baron's  interests  as 
his  own. 

But  he  did  not  feel  resentful  over  this.  Phil- 
anthropists pure  and  simple  are  not  generally  found 
amid  such  palatial  surroundings.  Poor  old  Papa 
Peron  had  been  one  without  doubt,  and  he  had  flung 
his  money  about  right  and  left;  wrecked  his  life  for 
a  sentimental  attachment  and  drawn  his  last  breath 
in  a  mean  lodging.  Emphatically  Baron  Salmoros 
was  not  of  the  same  breed.  He  seemed  kindly,  and 
there  was  often  a  benevolent  gleam  in  those  clear, 
shrewd  eyes.  But  for  every  ounce  of  help  he  gave, 
be  would  stipulate  for  a  handsome  return. 

"  I  think,  Corsini,  we  can  help  each  other  very  con- 
siderably. I  believe  it  is  in  my  power  to  advance 
you  in  two  ways;  in  the  more  permanent  direction 
that  my  dear  old  friend,   Jean  Villefort,   suggests, 


90  THE  INTRIGUERS 

and  also  in  the  artistic  way.  I  take  it,  the  latter  is 
really  nearer  to  your  heart.  Even  if  your  success 
has  not  been  stupendous,  you  have  set  your  first  foot- 
step on  the  ladder  of  fame." 

"  I  should  be  very  sorry  if  I  found  it  an  absolute 
necessity  to  give  up  my  musical  career  altogether. 
Baron." 

Salmoros  nodded  his  massive  snow-white  head. 
"  In  that  you  have  my  fullest  sympathy.  I  told  you 
a  short  time  ago  what  I  would  give  to  possess  your 
executive  talent.  Well,  I  have  been  thinking  con- 
siderably since  you  left,  and  I  believe  I  can  solve  the 
difficultv." 

Nello  followed  him  with  the  closest  attention.  To 
a  certain  extent  he  had  found  a  fairy  godfather  in 
Papa  Peron,  for  from  the  chance  meeting  on  that 
snowy  winter's  night  had  flowed  his  present  success, 
his  introduction  to  Gay,  through  Gay  his  meeting 
with  Paul  Degraux.  Was  he  about  to  find  a  more 
powerful  and  influential  one  in  this  world-renowned 
financier  ? 

"  Suppose  I  sent  you  on  a  partly  diplomatic  mis- 
sion to  Russia,  and  at  the  same  time  insured  you  cer- 
tain introductions  which  would  help  you  greatly  in 
your  musical  career  —  What  would  you  say  to  that? 
Does  the  suggestion  impress  you  ?  " 

The  young  man  could  hardly  believe  his  ears. 
Again  his  thoughts  went  back  to  the  days  when  he 
had  played  in  the  streets  for  a  few  miserable  coppers. 
And  to-day  he  was  sitting,  an  honoured  guest,  at  the 
table  of  one  of  the  greatest  financiers  in  the  world. 
He  had  to  assure  himself  that  he  was  not  dreaming. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  91 

"I  cannot  think  of  anything  more  delightful," 
was  the  fervent  answer. 

The  Baron  proceeded.  "  I  want  a  very  private 
and  confidential  letter  —  it  will,  of  course,  be  writ- 
ten in  cipher  —  carried  to  Lord  Ickfold,  the  British 
Ambassador  at  Saint  Petersburg," 

Nello  bowed.  This  would  surely  not  be  a  very 
difficult  task. 

"You  may  wonder  why  I  should  employ  you  on 
this  mission.  I  could  get  it  through  a  Foreign  Office 
Messenger,  as  a  matter  of  course,  but  he  would  be 
suspected,  and  my  letter  might  be  abstracted.  They 
have  some  very  clever  people  on  the  other  side.  You 
follow  me  ? " 

Nello  assured  him  that  he  did.  He  was  not  at  all 
sure  that  he  did  follow  the  windings  of  this  subtle 
intelligence.  But  it  would  never  do  to  let  the  Baron 
suspect  that. 

"  Now,  nobody  will  suspect  you.  It  is  well  known 
that  I  am  a  rather  generous  patron  of  the  arts,  that 
I  have  befriended  many  a  struggling  genius;  helped 
him  upwards  in  his  career.  Poor  old  Jean  Villefort 
has  sent  you  to  me,  soliciting  my  influence.  I  have 
numerous  friends  in  Russia.  You  consult  me.  I 
come  to  the  conclusion  that  a  short  absence  from  Eng- 
land will  whet  the  appreciation  of  those  who  have 
already  recognised  you  as  an  artist  of  considerable 
ability." 

Nello  nodded  his  handsome  head.  Salmoros  was 
now  getting  on  ground  where  he  could  easily  follow 
him. 

"  I  suggest  that,  with  my  introduction,  you  can 


92  THE  INTEIGUERS 

make  a  greater  and  quicker  success  than  here  —  you 
can  afterwards  come  back  with  a  foreign  cachet.  At 
the  same  time  you  carry  my  letter,  and  put  yourself 
at  the  disposition  of  Lord  Ickfold  and  any  friends 
he  may  introduce  you  to,  on  the  diplomatic  side." 

Yes,  Corsini  understood  perfectly  now.  He  said 
as  much. 

"  I  take  it  that,  up  to  the  present,  you  have  not 
made  a  vast  number  of  acquaintances.  Anyway,  the 
diplomatic  part  must  be  kept  a  strict  secret  between 
us,  until  I  give  you  leave  to  speak  of  it.  Perhaps  I 
may  never  give  you  leave;  anyway,  to  those  few 
friends  you  have,  give  it  out  that  you  have  seen  me, 
that  I  have  interested  myself  in  your  career  and  have 
advised  you  to  go  to  Russia,  where  I  believe  my  in- 
troductions will  insure  you  an  immediate  success." 

"  I  understand  perfectly.  Baron.  When  do  you 
wish  me  to  start  ?  " 

"  As  soon  as  possible ;  the  matter  is  urgent.  But 
before  we  settle  that,  let  me  recommend  you  to  pay  a 
casual  visit  to  Paul  Degraux  and  tell  him  what  I  have 
told  you  to  say.  You  need  mention  nothing  about 
poor  old  Jean;  he  would  not  be  interested  in  it,  if 
you  told  him  the  story.  Just  mention  that  you  were 
presented,  which  is  the  truth,  by  Lady  Glendover; 
that  you  achieved  the  rest  yourself." 

"  I  will  pay  a  casual  visit  to  Degraux  to-morrow." 

"  Eight,"  said  the  Baron,  pleased  to  find  his  latest 
pupil  was  so  quick.  "  Degraux  is  in  with  all  the 
musical  people,  and  what  you  tell  him  to-day  will  be 
whispered  to  a  hundred  persons  in  the  course  of  the 
next  few  days.     And  having  assisted  at  your  debut, 


THE  INTEIGUERS  93 

he  will  be  prepared  to  claim  a  considerable  amount 
of  interest  in  your  success,  l^ow,  when  can  you  go  ? 
I  have  told  you  the  matter  is  urgent.  What  engage- 
ments have  you  got  on  ?  " 

"  Only  two,  Baron.  One  to-night,  at  Leicester 
House,  the  other  three  nights  hence." 

"  We  can  say,  then,  that  you  will  be  ready  to  leave 
England  on  the  Monday  of  next  week  ?  "  queried 
Salmoros. 

"  I  shall  be  ready,"  answered  jSTello  quickly. 
Then  he  waited.  The  financier  would  surely  say 
something  about  ways  and  means.  He  had  saved  a 
certain  sum  of  money  in  the  short  time  that  he  had 
been  successful,  but  that  modest  store  would  not  sup- 
port the  expenses  of  a  Russian  campaign. 

But  of  course  Salmoros  was  not  a  man  likely  to 
overlook  such  an  important  point  as  this. 

"  One  does  not  travel  for  nothing.  And  I  may 
tell  you  that  in  this  enterprise,  on  which  you  are  em- 
barking at  my  instigation,  there  will  be  no  lack  of  the 
sinews  of  war.  I  shall  give  you  a  considerable 
amount  of  money  to  start  with.  When  you  arrive 
in  Russia,  you  will  be  well  provided  with  funds.  I 
can  assure  you  that  you  will  not  regret  having  tem- 
porarily relinquished  your  artistic  career  here. 
Lunch  with  me  again  here  on  Friday  of  this  week. 
I  will  have  everything  ready  cut-and-dried  for  you." 
The  great  man  looked  at  his  watch.  "  Fortunately, 
not  a  very  busy  day.  I  am  glad  we  have  had  plenty 
of  time  to  talk.  But  I  will  give  you  more  time  on 
Friday." 

Nello  perceived  that  he  was  dismissed.     This  man 


94  THE  INTKIGUERS 

had  many  irons  in  the  fire;  he  could  not  stay  too 
long  in  warming  one.  Still,  there  was  something  he 
must  say  before  he  left;  something  very  important 

"  Pardon  me,  Baron,  if  I  intrude  upon  a  few  more 
seconds  of  your  valuable  time.  You  know  nothing  of 
my  domestic  circumstances.  I  have  neither  wife  nor 
sweetheart,  but  I  have  a  young  sister,  to  whom  I  am 
very  tenderly  attached.  I  may  take  her  with  me  on 
this  journey  ?  " 

Over  Salmoros's  usually  kind  face  there  crept  a 
slight  frown.  He  had  not  thought  of  this,  and  yet 
a  young  man  was  bound  to  have  an  entanglement  of 
some  sort.  Eortunate  that  it  was  not  a  wife,  still  more 
fortunate  that  it  was  not  a  sweetheart.  He  knew 
the  artistic  temperaments  well.  One  smile  of  a 
woman  would  outweigh  much  gold. 

Then  the  frown  died  away  and  the  benevolent 
smile  came  back.  He  must  reason  with  this  young 
man  calmly. 

"  I  take  it  you  are  very  devoted  to  each  other  ? " 

Nello  answered  fervently.  "  We  think  with  one 
brain,  we  feel  with  one  heart,  sir.  It  will  cut  her 
to  the  quick  for  me  to  leave  her  behind." 

The  Baron  spoke  musingly.  Years  ago  he  had  had 
his  love  affairs  like  other  men ;  but  women  had  never 
entered  into  his  scheme  of  things  as  they  had  in  the 
case  of  his  old  friend  Jean.  They  were  meant  for 
man's  leisure,  for  his  playtime ;  they  could  not  be 
woven  into  the  serious  business  of  life. 

"  That  is  all  very  well,  Corsini,  but  hearts  are  not 
so  easily  broken  by  a  little  absence.  One  day  you 
will  leave  her  for  a  wife,  one  day  she  will  leave  you 


THE  INTRIGUEES  05 

for  a  husband.  I  trust  she  will  be  sensible.  You 
cannot  go  on  this  expedition  hampered  by  a  woman, 
whatever  her  relationship.  You  will  come  back  to 
her  soon." 

"  How  soon  do  you  think,  sir  ?  "  questioned  Nello 
eagerly. 

"  Say,  in  two  or  three  months."  The  Baron's  tone 
was  a  little  hesitating.  He  knew  in  his  own  mind 
that  there  was  a  darker  side  to  the  picture,  that  there 
might  be  an  altogether  different  ending  to  the  jour- 
ney. But  he  was  not  going  to  frighten  the  young 
man  with  that,  or  he  might  cry  off  at  the  last  minute. 

Nello  persisted;  his  love  for  his  self-sacrificing 
little  sister  was  very  real,  very  deep. 

"  She  is  young,  in  many  things  younger  than  her 
years,  and  utterly  ignorant  of  the  world.  I  cannot 
leave  her  alone,  Baron,  in  the  charge  of  a  careless 
landlady.  I  would  rather  give  up  the  whole  thing 
and  risk  my  chances  here  in  London." 

The  Baron  thought  to  himself  that  here  was  a  more 
difficult  person  to  deal  with  than  he  expected.  But 
it  was  not  very  long  before  his  fertile  brain  solved 
the  difficulty. 

"  I  understand.  I  am  the  last  man  in  the  world 
to  suggest  such  an  inhuman  thing.  I  can  make  the 
way  easy  for  you.  Two  dear  friends  of  mine,  old 
maids  I  suppose  we  must  call  them,  have  a  big  house 
in  Kensington.  They  are  very  lonely,  without  any 
young  relatives.  At  a  word  from  me  they  would  be 
delighted  to  take  charge  of  her  during  your  brief 
absence.  Keep  what  money  you  have  saved  for  your- 
self.    I  will  charge  myself  with  her  maintenance, 


9G  THE  INTRIGUERS 

and  she  shall  have  plenty  of  pocket-money,  I  can 
assure  you." 

Nello  grasped  the  old  man's  hand  warmly. 
"  You  have  relieved  me  of  the  last  ounce  of  hesita- 
tion.    A  thousand,  nay,  ten  thousand  thanks." 

The  Baron  returned  the  pressure;  he  was  de- 
lighted he  had  got  his  own  way.  "  That  is  under- 
stood. On  Friday  I  will  have  that  cut-and-dried 
also.  Now  keep  up  your  little  sister's  spirits  — 
what  is  her  name  ?  Eh,  Anita.  Tell  her  that  you 
are  going  to  make  fame  and  fortune,  that  you  will 
soon  be  back,  and  that  she  will  be  very  happy  with 
these  two  dear  old  ladies,  who  will  cosset  her  like  a 
baby." 

When  he  left  the  Baron  he  could  not  quite  decide 
what  his  feelings  were.  In  a  sense  he  was  jubilant  at 
the  brilliant  prospects  before  him,  but  his  heart  was 
heavy  for  Anita.  They  had  lived  together  all  their 
lives ;  they  had  been  through  terrible  and  heart-break- 
ing times. 

To-night  he  was  playing  at  Leicester  House^  the 
abode  of  a  musical  duchess.  lie  wanted  to  play  his 
best ;  he  would  not  dare  to  tell  the  unsuspecting  Anita 
of  his  speedy  departure.  Her  tears,  her  grief,  would 
unman  him. 

The  first  persons  he  met  in  the  specious  saloons 
overlooking  the  Green  Park  were  the  Princess  Zouroff 
and  her  daughter. 

The  girl  held  out  her  hand.  "  Ah,  Signer,  I  am  so 
pleased  to  see  you.  You  must  play  that  lovely  little 
romance  to-night.     Shall  I  tell  you  the  reason  ?  " 

"  I  require  no  reason,  Princess.    Jt  is  enough  for 


THE  INTRIGUERS  97 

me  that  you  request  me  to  play  it.  It  shall  be 
played."  He  blushed  a  little  as  he  spoke.  He  was 
not  accustomed  to  indulge  in  persiflage  with  great 
ladies. 

A  little  colour  came  into  ber  face  also.  Perhaps 
the  young  musician's  tone  had  been  more  fervent  than 
he  intended. 

"  But  I  will  tell  you  the  reason,  nevertheless.  We 
have  been  recalled  to  St.  Petersburg;  we  leave  Lon- 
don next  week.  That  is  the  reason  my  brother  Boris 
is  not  here;  he  is  winding  up  affairs  for  his  suc- 
cessor." 

A  deeper  flush  spread  over  T^ello's  face.  "  But 
that  is  very  strange.  I  am  going  there  myself.  I 
start  next  Mondav." 

The  young  Princess  looked  pleased.  She  turned 
to  her  mother.  "  Signer  Corsini  must  call  upon  us, 
mother."  She  looked  at  him  with  a  little  smile. 
"  To-night  will  not  then  be  the  last  time  I  shall  hear 
that  lovely  romance." 

The  elder  woman  seconded  the  invitation  warmly. 
"  You  shall  come  and  play  for  us,  Signor.  I  think 
you  will  find  the  Slav  temperament  a  little  more  fer- 
vent than  the  Anglo-Saxon  one." 

Xello  thought  this  a  good  time  for  explanations. 
Degraux  would  spread  the  news  about  in  his  world, 
the  Zouroffs  would  spread  it  about  in  theirs. 

"  You  know,  of  course,  the  Baron  Salmoros  ?  " 

The  Princess  replied  that  they  had  a  slight  ac- 
quaintance with  that  distinguished  financier. 

"  Lady  Glcndover  introduced  mo  to  him.  lie  is 
a  very  considerable  amateur,  he  has  been  kind  enou^'h 


98  THE  INTRIGUERS 

to  take  a  very  warm  interest  in  me.     He  is  going  to 
push  my  fortunes  in  Russia." 

"  His  name  is  one  to  conjure  with  in  Russia,"  said 
the  grey-haired  Princess.  "  He  stands  very  high  in 
the  favour  of  his  Imperial  Majesty." 

Princess  Isada.  nodded  him  farewell.  "  It  is  not 
good-bye,  then,  only  au  revoir.  I  suppose  artists  and 
ambassadors  are  the  greatest  cosmopolitans  on  earth. 
We  shall  meet  next  in  St.  Petersburg." 
'  And,  on  the  Monday  of  the  following  week,  Cor- 
sini  set  out  on  his  expedition. 

He  had  seen  Degraux,  who  had  congratulated  him 
heartily.  "  Salmoros  pulls  so  many  strings ;  he  can 
do  more  for  you  in  a  week  than  I  could  do  for  you 
in  twelve  months,"  he  had  told  him.  "  He  has  run 
several  theatres  for  people  he  believed  in.  He  will 
do  anything  in  the  world  for  you  when  he  once  takes 
a  fancy." 

And  little  Anita  had  been  very  brave;  she  wept  a 
good  deal  when  she  was  alone,  but  in  her  brother's 
presence  she  kept  her  tears  back.  Was  she  to  oppose 
the  feelings  of  her  loving  and  undisciplined  heart  to 
the  fiat  of  this  new  benefactor  who  had  come  so  un- 
expectedly into  their  lives? 

So  she  went  meekly  to  the  big  house  in  Kensing- 
ton, tenanted  by  the  two  dear  old  maids  who  were 
prepared  to  mother  her,  as  much  for  her  own  sweet 
ways  as  from  their  ardent  admiration  for  the  com- 
pelling Salmoros,  who  had  been  a  bosom  friend  of 
their  father. 

"  Two  or  three  months  and  I  shall  be  back  again !  " 


THE  INTRIGUEES  99 

sighed  Corsini  as  he  settled  himself  in  the  train. 
Little  could  he  guess  what  the  future  would  unfold 
as  he  made  this  confident  prediction. 


CHAPTER  IX 

Weary  and  worn  with  his  long  journey,  ISTello  dis- 
mounted at  the  little  wayside  station  about  thirty 
miles  from  St.  Petersburg.  All  passengers  were  per- 
emptorily ordered  to  alight.  Presently  he  learned 
that  there  had  been  a  slight  railway  accident  in  front, 
and  that  he  might  have  to  wait  two  or  three  hours 
before  he  could  get  on  to  the  capital. 

He  walked  in  the  direction  of  the  little  village. 
There  was  evidently  a  great  stir  taking  place  in  this 
ordinarily  quiet  neighbourhood.  Mounted  soldiers 
■were  drawn  up  before  the  old  posting-inn. 

N'ello  happened  to  get  hold  of  a  man  who  could 
speak  a  little  French,  in  a  halting,  but  intelligent 
way. 

"  Quite  a  commotion  for  such  a  tranquil  spot. 
What  is  it  that  is  on  the  tapis  ?  "  inquired  Corsini. 

The  man  explained  in  his  slow  French.  "  Some- 
thing out  of  the  usual,  Monsieur.  Have  you  ever 
heard  of  a  terrible  fellow,  one  Ivan,  nicknamed  '  The 
Cuckoo '  ?  " 

ISTo,  ISTello  had  never  heard  of  him.  "  Is  he  a 
very  formidable  personage  this  '  Ivan  the  Cuckoo,' 
then  ?  " 

The  man  explained  elaborately  that  Ivan  was  a 

much-feared  outlaw,  that  he  was  in  the  vicinity  with 

a  gang  of  desperadoes   and   assassins.     He  was   a 

100 


THE  INTEIGUEES  101 

convict  who  had  escaped  from  the  mines  of  Siberia, 
and  had  gathered  round  him  a  band  of  miscreants  as 
desperate  as  himself,  and  as  careless  of  consequences. 
They  had  lived  by  preying  on  the  peasants  and  stx*ay 
travellers. 

"  The  police  are  endeavouring  to  block  the  roads, 
so  that,  in  desperation,  he  and  his  associates  may  be 
driven  into  the  village  and  captured,"  concluded  the 
man  who  had  volunteered  the  explanation  in  his 
halting  French. 

Corsini  thanked  him,  and  strolled  along  down  the 
straggling  village  street.  What  was  he  to  do  till  the 
railway  service  was  restored  ?  The  village  inn  was 
open,  where,  if  he  pleased,  he  could  go  and  saturate 
himself  with  vodka  or  some  other  potent  spirit ;  but 
the  young  man  had  the  abstemiousness  of  the  Latin 
races.  He  did  not  want  to  amuse  himself  in  this 
fashion. 

He  would  take  a  little  stroll.  Occupied  with  his 
own  thoughts  of  the  life  and  reception  awaiting  him 
in  St.  Petersburg,  with  those  powerful  introductions 
from  the  influential  Salmoros,  he  did  not  think  of  the 
risk  he  was  running  in  wandering  away  from  the 
protected  precincts  of  the  quiet  village,  guarded  as 
it  was  by  those  stout  mounted  soldiers.  Ivan  and 
his  band  were  lurking  about  somewhere,  ready  to 
pounce  on  the  unwary  traveller. 

After  a  few  minutes'  slow  walk,  he  came  to  a  road- 
side ikon.  Mechanically  he  stopped  and  crossed  him- 
self. He  was  a  man  of  deeply  religious  feeling,  and 
he  fancied  he  had  been  blessed  with  a  good  omen 
on  his  entrance  into  this  strange  country.     A  few 


102  THE  INTRIGUERS 

prayers   to   the    Blessed    Virgin   and   he   would   be 
sheltered  from  all  harm. 

Hardly  had  his  lips  ceased  moving  in  reverent 
supplication,  w^hen  he  was  aware  of  a  strange  pres- 
ence. A  tall,  bearded  man  emerged  from  the  semi- 
gloom  and  held  out  his  hands  with  an  imploring  ges- 
ture. 

"  Save  me  for  the  sake  of  her  whom  we  both  rev- 
erence," he  cried.  He  spoke,  like  the  last  man  who 
had  addressed  Nello,  in  lame  and  halting  French. 
He  had  evidently  appreciated  the  fact  that  Corsini 
was  not  a  fellow-countryman. 

Corsini  started  back  and  his  hand  stole  to  his  hip 
pocket,  from  which  he  produced  a  very  serviceable 
revolver,  which  he  levelled  straight  at  the  intruder. 

"  Who  and  what  are  you  ?  "  he  cried  loudly,  with 
a  resolution  he  was  far  from  feeling.  This  rough, 
unkempt  man  looked  as  if  he  was  possessed  of  giant 
strength.  If  it  had  come  to  a  hand-to-hand  tussle,  he 
could  have  broken  the  slim  young  Italian  in  two. 
But  Nello  would  not  let  it  come  to  that.  He  kept 
his  pistol  well  levelled  at  the  stranger's  head.  The 
least  movement  and  he  would  fire. 

"  Save  me  for  her  sake,  for  the  sake  of  the  Virgin," 
pleaded  the  man  in  despairing  accents.  "  You  are 
not  an  outlaw  like  me;  you  have  not  been  through 
what  I  have.  I  trust  you,  for  a  man  who  says  his 
prayers  with  the  devotion  you  do  —  I  watched  you 
behind  the  trees  —  would  never  betray  his  hunted 
fellow-creatures." 

And  then  a  light  came  suddenly  to  Corsini,  stand- 
ing there,  armed  with  that  eloquent  pistol. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  103 

"  You  speak  of  yourself  as  an  outlaw.  I  have  just 
come  from  the  little  village  yonder,  which  is  in  a 
state  of  commotion  with  mounted  soldiers.  They  are 
looking  for  an  outlaw,  a  convict  escaped  from  the 
mines  of  Siberia.  I  am  right  in  saying  that  you  are 
'  Ivan  the  Cuckoo.'  Where  is  your  band  of  assassins 
and  robbers  who  prey  upon  the  travellers  and  peas- 
ants ?  " 

The  miserable  man  fell  at  his  feet.  Nello,  in  the 
dim  light,  saw  that  his  face  had  gone  livid. 

"  You  have  guessed,  Monsieur.  It  is  true.  I  am 
Ivan  the  outlaw.  You  cannot  appreciate  the  misery 
that  drove  me  to  this." 

In  a  dim  sort  of  way  ISTello  understood.  This  man 
was  an  outlaw.  Was  it  not  just  a  chance  that  he  was 
not  one  himself?  Many  a  night,  as  he  had  played 
in  the  cold  streets  for  a  few  miserable  pence,  he  had 
passed  the  flaring  restaurants,  the  well-lighted  shops, 
their  windows  full  of  precious  things  to  be  coveted 
by  the  poor  and  hungry.  He  could  not  deny  that 
many  a  time  he  had  railed  at  the  world's  injustice, 
that  criminal  thoughts  had  surged  through  his  half- 
maddened  brain. 

He  thought  of  the  saying  of  the  old  Quaker, 
whenever  he  heard  of  a  criminal  on  the  road  to  death. 
"  There,  but  for  the  grace  of  God,  goes  myself." 

Yes,  but  for  the  sudden  intervention  in  the  shape 
of  good  old  Papa  Peron,  he  might  have  drifted  into 
evil  courses  like  the  wretched  creature  grovelling  at 
his  feet     It  was  not  for  him  to  judge. 

He  looked  at  him  steadily,  still  keeping  the  pistol 
levelled  at  the  vital  part,  and  repeated  his  question. 


104  THE  INTKIGUERS 


(I 


What  has  become  of  your  band  of  robbers  and 
assassins  ?  "  he  asked  sternly. 

"  Dispersed,  Monsieur  —  dispersed,  I  give  you  my 
word.  Yesterday  we  learned  that  the  soldiers  and 
police  were  on  our  track,  were  preparing  to  draw  a 
cordon  round  us.  It  was  a  case  of  sauve  qui  peut, 
devil  take  the  hindmost.  We  agreed  to  separate. 
There  were  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  of  us,  but  our 
numbers  have  been  exaggerated.  We  all  scattered  in 
different  directions.  Somehow,  I  stumbled  up  here, 
and  you  tell  me  the  little  village  is  astir." 

"  What  is  it  you  want  of  me  ?  " 

"  Just  a  little  money,  Monsieur;  just  a  little  money 
to  help  me  on  my  way  to  St.  Petersburg,  where  I 
shall  find  friends," 

!N^ello  looked  at  him  suspiciously.  "  But  why  do 
you  want  money?  It  was  only  yesterday  that  you 
heard  the  police  were  closing  round  you.  You  have 
been  robbing  as  you  go.  When  you  agreed  to  sep- 
arate, no  doubt  you  divided  the  ready  money." 

"  That  is  true,  Monsieur ;  you  are  very  clever," 
replied  the  grovelling  man  in  a  fawning  voice. 
"  You  will  hardly  believe  me  when  I  tell  you,  but  I 
swear  it  is  true.  Last  night  I  slept  in  a  little  inn  a 
few  miles  from  here.  I  had  drunk  heavily,  I  admit ; 
I  slept  very  soundly.  When  I  awoke  in  the  morn- 
ing every  coin  I  possessed  had  been  stolen  from  my 
pockets.  I,  an  old  hand,  blush  to  tell  you.  Monsieur ; 
but  I,  who  have  robbed  so  many,  was  robbed  myself." 

"  Do  you  suspect  anybody  ? "  was  Nello's  next 
question. 

The  man  uttered  a  fierce  imprecation.     "  Yes,  I 


THE  INTRIGUERS  105 

do;  I  suspect  one  of  my  so-called  pals.  As  captain 
I  took  the  biggest  share  when  we  agreed  to  separate. 
I  caught  his  eye  fixed  upon  me  with  a  very  sinister 
look.  My  theory  is  that  he  followed  me  at  a  safe 
distance  and  saw  where  I  was  lodged.  He  was  well 
aware  of  my  habits ;  he  knew  I  should  be  pretty  fast 
asleep.  He  climbed  up  through  the  window,  Mon- 
sieur, and  took  every  copper.  I  was  too  drunk  to 
hear  him.  If  I  had  been  in  my  sober  senses,  I  would 
have  strangled  him,  and  added  one  more  crime  to  the 
many  committed  by  Ivan  the  outlaw."  He  ended 
with  a  defiant  grin,  that  showed  a  row  of  strong 
white  wolfish  teeth. 

Nello  mused  for  a  little  space.  The  man  might 
be  speaking  truth ;  he  was  half  disposed  to  think  so. 
On  the  other  hand,  he  might  be  telling  him  a  tissue  of 
lies. 

"  Why  are  you  not  armed  ?  "  he  asked  suddenly, 

"  I  have  a  pistol,  Monsieur,  but  it  is  empty.  I 
could  find  no  place  in  which  to  buy  cartridges.  See 
for  yourself." 

He  fumbled  in  his  pocket  and  threw  down  the 
weapon  on  the  ground.  Nello  picked  it  up  cau- 
tiously; it  was,  as  its  owner  had  truly  declared,  harm- 
less. 

A  grim  smile  crossed  the  young  man's  countenance, 
but  he  did  not  for  a  second  relax  his  vigilance.  This 
ruffian  of  the  highway  was,  no  doubt,  as  cunning  as 
he  was  plausible. 

"  If  your  pistol  had  been  loaded,  I  expect  you 
would  have  extorted  money  from  me  instead  of  beg- 
ging it." 


106  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Ivan  the  outlaw  shook  his  big  head.  "  Under  or- 
dinary circumstances,  yes,  Monsieur.  Adversity  has 
taught  me  not  to  stand  upon  ceremony.  But  when  I 
saw  your  lips  moving  in  prayer  before  the  ikon,  I 
would  not  have  harmed  a  hair  of  your  head.  You 
would  have  been  sacred." 

Truly  a  strange  being,  imbued  with  the  ever-pres- 
ent superstition  of  the  Russian  peasant,  thought  Nello 
to  himself. 

"  And  you  want  money  from  me.  Of  course  you 
know  what  my  duty  is,  as  a  peaceable  man  who  has 
no  sympathy  with  robbers  and  assassins  ?  " 

"  Certainly,  Monsieur.  If  you  don't  choose  to 
shoot  me  in  a  vital  spot  and  so  insure  my  death,  you 
ought  to  maim  me  to  prevent  me  from  moving,  leave 
me  here  and  go  and  fetch  the  police  from  the  village 
to  take  me  into  custody."  The  man  had  spoken  so 
far  in  a  low,  imperturbable  voice ;  then  at  the  end  he 
lashed  himself  into  sudden  fury  and  shrieked  out. 

"  It's  a  toss  of  a  copper  to  me  what  you  do.  But  if 
you  won't  give  me  any  money,  kill  me  outright.  I 
have  not  made  such  a  success  of  life  that  I  am  anx- 
ious to  enjoy  much  more  of  it.  Kill  me,  Monsieur, 
and  finish  it  once  for  all.  The  police  will  thank  you 
for  having  got  rid  of  '  Ivan  the  Cuckoo.'  They  won't 
ask  too  many  questions." 

Nello  thought  for  some  little  time.  His  thoughts 
went  back  to  a  very  miserable  night,  some  six  months 
ago.  He  had  been  playing  in  the  streets  and  had 
returned  home  with  nothing.  He  owed  the  rent  for 
the  miserable  hovel  in  which  they  sheltered ;  they  had 
no  food. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  107 

He  had  looked  his  sister  squarely  in  the  face  and 
had  whispered  the  question  — "  Is  life  worth  living, 
Anita,  under  such  conditions  ?  "  She  had  returned 
his  gaze  with  a  face  as  white  as  his  own,  but  she  had 
not  faltered,  as  she  replied,  "  Nello,  I  leave  it  in 
your  hands."  And,  thank  Heaven,  he  had  conquered 
that  terrible  fit  of  despair,  to  find,  later  on,  a  new 
world  opening  to  him. 

He  handed  the  wretched  man  a  sum  of  money  and 
spoke  in  very  gentle  tones. 

"God  be  good  to  you,  my  poor  friend,  and  soften 
your  heart.  I  know  not  if  the  world  has  been  too 
harsh  to  you,  or  you  have  too  grievously  offended  the 
world.  Go  in  peace.  I  am  not  your  judge,  and  I 
will  not  be  your  executioner." 

With  a  brief  blessing,  the  outlaw  took  the  money 
and  slunk  away  in  the  gathering  darkness. 

"  I  shall  remember  vour  face  for  ever,"  he  whis- 
pered  in  farewell.  "  It  is  not  likely  we  shall  ever 
meet  again.  But  if  we  do  and  I  can  repay  my  debt, 
I  will,  and  with  interest." 

A  few  hours  later  Nello  was  in  St.  Petersburg. 
He  put  up  at  one  of  the  best  hotels  in  the  city,  acting 
upon  the  instructions  of  Salmoros.  That  gentleman 
had  urged  upon  him  the  necessity  of  keeping  up  a 
good  appearance,  and  spending  money  lavishly,  at 
any  rate  for  the  present. 

That  night  he  had  confused  dreams  of  his  gentle 
little  sister  Anita,  the  beautiful  Princess  Nada,  and 
the  rough  outlaw  whom  he  had  saved  from  justice. 

Next  morning  he  made  his  way  to  the  British  Em- 
bassy and  inquired  for  Lord  Ickfold,  mentioning  that 


108  THE  INTEIGUEKS 

he  bad  come  on  a  special  mission  from  the  Baron 
Salmoros.  In  a  few  moments  he  was  shown  into  His 
Excellency's  presence. 

Lord  Ickfold  was  a  handsome,  presentable  man  of 
about  sixty  years  of  age.  Contrary  to  the  fashion  of 
the  day,  he  was  clean-shaven.  Being  a  widower,  an 
unmarried  daughter  presided  over  the  establishment. 
This  morning  he  was  at  a  somewhat  late  dejeuner, 
alone. 

He  rose  and  shook  the  young  man  cordially  by 
the  hand.  "  Anybody  who  comes  from  my  good  old 
friend  Salmoros  is  especially  welcome,"  he  said  with 
true  diplomatic  urbanity.  "  By  the  way,  have  you 
breakfasted  ?  I  am  very  late ;  I  had  to  send  impor- 
tant dispatches  last  night.  I  did  not  get  to  bed  till 
four  this  morning." 

ISTello  answered  with  equal  courtesy  that  he  had 
already  made  his  meal,  and  handed  him  the  bulgy 
packet  with  which  the  Baron  had  entrusted  him. 

The  Ambassador  perused  the  contents  of  the 
packet  slowly  as  he  consumed  his  breakfast.  But 
the  last  letter  he  read  seemed  to  agitate  him  to  an  un- 
wonted degree.  He  jumped  up  hastily,  rang  the 
bell,  and  commanded  the  footman  to  order  his  carriage 
immediately.  Eor  a  moment  he  almost  seemed 
oblivious  of  the  young  man's  presence. 

"  Pardon  me,  Signor  Corsini.  I  must  drive  to 
the  Winter  Palace  at  once ;  the  news  in  the  last  letter 
is  of  extreme  urgency.  We  will  go  down  together 
when  the  carriage  comes.  Can  I  drop  you  any- 
where ?  " 

But  lN"ello  preferred  to  walk  and  take  his  bearings 


THE  INTEIGUEES  109 

of  the  wonderful  city.  Lord  Ickfold  shook  him 
waiinly  by  the  hand  at  parting. 

"  I  have  your  address.  It  will  not  be  long  before 
I  shall  want  to  see  you  again.  If  you  are  writing  to 
the  Baron  to-day,  please  give  him  my  warmest  re- 
gards and  a  thousand  thanks.  It  may  be  a  little 
time,  for  certain  reasons,  before  I  communicate  with 
him  directly.  In  fact,  I  would  rather  send  a  letter 
to  you  to  be  forwarded." 

ISTello  walked  the  gay  streets  for  some  time.  Be- 
ing a  very  shrewd  young  man,  in  spite  of  his  compar- 
ative youth,  it  seemed  to  him  that  Lord  Ickfold  and 
the  Baron  were  playing  some  subtle  game,  in  which 
he  was  to  be  used  as  a  pawn. 

But  what  did  that  matter,  so  long  as  his  career  was 
advanced  between  the  pair  ? 

And  then  his  thoughts  reverted  to  the  charming 
young  Princess  Nada.  When  would  he  meet  her 
again?  She  would  be  in  St.  Petersburg  this  week, 
so  she  had  told  him. 


CHAPTER  X 

In  the  private  room  of  Count  Golitzine,  the  Czar's 
private  secretary,  sat  two  men  —  the  Count  himself 
and  Lord  Ickfold,  the  British  Ambassador.  The 
apartment  was  in  a  secluded  wing  of  the  Winter 
Palace. 

The  Ambassador  was  reading  aloud  from  the 
Baron's  covering  letter,  which  he  held  in  his  hands. 

"  Remember,  the  young  man,  Corsini,  whom  I  am 
sending  you  is  everything  for  your  purpose.     Only 
you  must  keep  him  in  entire  ignorance  of  the  part  he 
is  to  play  —  at  any  rate  for  the  present  —  as  he  is 
still  very  young  and  might  be  open  to  the  influence  of 
women.     This  is  a  most  vital  point.     He  is  very  in- 
telligent without  being  suspicious ;  honourable,  trust- 
worthy, and  innocent,  without  being  a  fool.     I  think 
I  have  taken  his  measure  pretty  accurately.     He  is 
devoted  to  his  art  —  he  is  really  a  most  accomplished 
musician,  as  the  notices  I  enclose  will  prove  —  and 
you  must  get  him  pushed  forward  to  the  premier 
place,  through  the  good  offices  of  your  friends.     The 
Zouroffs  are  returning  for  a  short  space  to  the  Court 
and  he  will  have  the  entree  to  their  house.     I  fancy, 
from  what  I  have  heard,  that  the  Princess  Nada  is 
just  a  little  attracted  by  him.     The  important  thing, 
however,  is  to  get  him  an  introduction  to  La  Belle 

Quero.     She  is  hand  in  glove  with  Prince  Zouroff, 

110 


THE  INTRIGUEES  111 

and  from  that  fact  alone  to  be  suspected.  They  have 
been  in  correspondence  with  each  other  all  the  short 
time  he  has  been  in  England ;  but  although  1  have 
tried  my  best,  I  have  never  been  able  to  get  hold  of 
any  of  their  letters." 

Lord  Ickfold  paused  a  moment  and  looked  at  the 
Count,  who  nodded  his  head. 

■*  Yes,  I  agree.  Corsini  may  be  very  useful,  es- 
pecially if  he  manages  to  captivate  La  Belle  Quero. 
That  is,  no  doubt,  what  Salmoros  has  in  his  mind, 
amongst  several  other  things." 

The  Ambassador  resumed  his  reading.  "  I  regret 
that  I  have  but  a  slight  clue  to  what  I  conceive  to 
be  a  very  bold  and  desperate  conspiracy,  in  which 
ZourofF  is  one  of  the  leading  figures.  The  man  has 
a  certain  amount  of  brains  and  a  considerable 
amount  of  daring,  which  makes  him  the  more  to  be 
feared.  But  the  information  which  I  send  your  Ex- 
cellency in  other  letters  is  absolutely  reliable.  For 
the  present,  until  we  can  learn  more,  use  all  your  in- 
fluence through  Golitzine  and  others  to  make  sure 
that  the  Emperor  does  not  appear  in  public  more 
often  than  is  absolutely  necessary.  Otherwise,  I  fear 
disaster." 

The  two  men  discussed  the  situation  for  some  time. 
There  were  other  documents  besides  the  covering  let- 
ter which  they  read  very  carefully. 

Golitzine  summed  up,  as  it  were.  "  Our  hopes 
lie  in  the  direction  of  La  Belle  Quero  through  this 
young  Italian,  who,  you  tell  me,  is  handsome  and  also 
a  talented  artist." 

"  You  have  read  in  one  of  those  other  letters  what 


112  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Salmoros  has  said  of  him  —  that  he  has  created  a 
considerable  success  in  Loudon,  and  only  just  wants 
a  little  influence  to  push  him  into  the  front  rank." 

The  Count  smiled.  "  That  is  easy,  my  dear 
friend.  The  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera  is  get- 
ting a  trifle  old.  We  will  pension  him,  and  put 
Corsini  in  his  place." 

"  A  bold  stroke,"  said  Lord  Ickfold  admiringly. 
"  There  is  something  to  be  said  for  an  autocratic 
government  after  all.  We  dare  not  do  anything  of 
the  kind  in  our  country ;  all  the  Press  would  be  up  in 
arms.  With  you,  a  stroke  of  the  pen  settles  every- 
thing." 

The  Count's  smile  deepened.  "  And  after  all,  my 
lord,  in  the  long  run,  it  works  as  well  as  in  your 
democratic  country.  In  the  end,  substantial  justice 
is  done,  rather  more  swiftly,  by  our  methods." 

"  It  seems  to  me  that  La  Belle  Quero  is  the  crux," 
commented  the  Ambassador.  "  Suppose  she  refuses 
to  fall  in  love  with  this  Corsini,  what  then  ?  " 

"  She  will  not  refuse,"  replied  the  Count,  speaking 
with  his  assured  man-of-the-world  air.  "  The  rela- 
tions between  her  and  the  Prince  have  been  of  long 
standing,  I  admit,  and  she  is  also  a  woman  who 
might  be  attracted  by  a  certain  amount  of  brutality 
which  our  excellent  friend  Boris  has  in  perfect  abun- 
dance. But  this  young  man  is  a  Latin  like  herself, 
an  artist  like  herself.  Bah !  In  twenty-four  hours 
Zouroff  will  be  forgotten.  Besides,  he  is  verging  on 
middle  age,  and  this  Corsini  is  a  youth.  Besides, 
further,  he  will  be  the  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera. 
She  will  be  dependent  upon  him  for   small  kind- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  113 

nesses,  little  favours,  which  I  shall  instruct  him  to  be 
lavish  of.     You  uuderstaud  ?  " 

The  morniug  after  the  interview  between  these 
two  exalted  personages,  the  Ambassador's  smart  car- 
riage stopped  at  Nello's  hotel.  The  slim  secretary 
alighted  and  sought  the  young  musician,  with  a  mes- 
sage from  his  chief  that  he  desired  to  see  him  immed- 
iately at  the  Embassy. 

"  You  see  I  have  not  forgotten  you,  Signer  Cor- 
sini,"  was  Lord  Ickfold's  cordial  greeting  as  Nello 
entered  the  room.  "  Salmoros  has  asked  me  to  use 
all  my  influence  to  advance  you  in  your  profession, 
and  I  intend  to  do  so.  It  will  give  me  the  greatest 
pleasure." 

He  wrote  a  brief  note  and  handed  it  to  the  young 
man.  "  This  is  a  letter  to  Count  Golitzine,  the  Em- 
peror's secretary,  who  wields  more  influence  than  any- 
body in  St.  Petersburg.  You  will  find  him  at  the 
Winter  Palace.  My  carriage  is  waiting  to  drive 
you  there." 

Events  were  happening  very  rapidly,  T^ello  thought. 
When  Salmoros  took  a  thing  up,  the  wheels  of  action 
appeared  to  move  very  easily.  Also,  he  was  begin- 
ning to  get  a  firm  foothold  in  the  great  world  of  di- 
plomacy and  politics.  Yesterday  he  had  made  the 
acquaiutance  of  the  British  Ambassador;  this  morn- 
ing he  was  to  interview  the  Emperor's  private  secre- 
tary, the  most  powerful  man  in  St'.  Petersburg,  and 
conpcquently  in  Russia. 

The  Count  received  him  with  more  than  ordinary 
graciousness,  and  questioned  him  kindly  about  his 
London  oxporiences.     Lounging  by  the  mantelpiece 


114  THE  INTRIGUERS 

of  the  room  in  which  the  two  men  were  seated,  was  a 
tall,  quietly-dressed  middle-aged  man  in  civilian 
clothes.  Nello  took  him  to  be  either  an  oiEcial  of  the 
Court  or  a  private  friend  of  the  secretary. 

At  a  pause  in  the  conversation,  this  person,  who- 
ever he  was,  suddenly  turned  to  the  young  man  and 
carelessly  asked  in  French,  "  Do  you  know  any  one 
of  position  in  St.  Petersburg,  Signor  Corsini  ?  " 

Nello  frankly  answered  that  with  the  exception  of 
Lord  Ickfold  and  the  Count,  he  knew  nobody  except 
the  Princess  Zouroff  and  her  daughter.  He  ex- 
plained how  he  had  met  them,  how  he  had  played  at 
their  house  in  London,  and  been  invited  to  visit  them 
here. 

Nello  fancied  that  a  slight  frown  come  over  the 
unknown's  face  at  mention  of  the  name  Zouroff.  But 
his  comment  was  quite  simple.  "  Ah,  the  Ambassa- 
dor and  the  Count  between  them  will  soon  extend 
your  circle  of  acquaintance.  I  understand  you  come 
with  strong  letters  of  introduction  from  that  splen- 
did old  fellow,  Salmoros." 

Nello  bowed.  Evidently  this  personage,  to  whom 
he  had  not  been  introduced,  knew  what  was  going  on. 
He  must  certainly  be  an  official  of  some  importance, 
and  appeared  to  be  quite  at  his  ease  in  Golitzine's 
presence. 

The  Count  resumed  his  conversation  with  Nello, 
and  the  other  man  quitted  his  lounging  position  by 
the  fire-place,  and  walked  down  the  long  room  to  the 
deep  bay  window,  from  which  he  pretended  to  look 
out.  But  all  the  while  he  was  listening  intently  lO 
the  other  two. 


THE  INTKIGUERS  115 

"  And  now,  Signer  Corsini,  I  have  a  little  surprise 
for  you,  and  one  which  I  hope  will  be  welcome,"  were 
the  Count's  parting  words.  "  The  present  Director 
of  the  Imperial  Opera  has  for  some  time  contem- 
plated retirement.  He  is  growing  a  little  deaf,  and 
finds  that  the  infirmity  militates  against  the  proper 
performance  of  his  duties.  He  will  relinquish  his 
post  next  week,  and  I  have  much  pleasure  in  confer- 
ring the  appointment  upon  you.  I  do  so  with  the 
sanction  of  my  Imperial  Master,  to  whom  I  have 
shown  the  Baron's  strong  letters  of  recommendation." 

Nello  felt  the  room  going  round.  Could  he  be- 
lieve his  ears  ?  Only  a  few  hours  in  St.  Petersburg, 
and  promoted  to  one  of  the  most  coveted  posts  in  the 
musical  world !  Why,  he  was  as  great  as  Degraux. 
Truly,  the  white-haired  Salmoros  was  a  wizard, 
masquerading  under  the  guise  of  a  benevolent 
financier. 

With  a  great  effort  he  pulled  himself  together  and 
stammered  his  thanks.  "  I  cannot  suflBcientlv  ex- 
press  my  gratitude,  your  Excellency.  I  shall  do  my 
best  to  justify  your  kindness.  But  I  feel  it  will  be 
no  easy  task  to  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  such  an  il- 
lustrious predecessor." 

As  soon  as  Nello  had  retired,  the  man  who  was 
lounging  in  the  bay  window  turned  round  to  Golit- 
zine  and  shot  at  him  the  abrupt  question,  "  Well, 
what  do  you  think  of  him,  eh  ?  Is  that  shrewd 
old  fellow  Salmoros  right?  Will  he  bo  useful  to 
us?" 

The  Count  replied  in  respectful  tones.  "  It  is 
rather  early  to  form  a  judgment,  your  Majesty,  but 


116  THE  INTRIGUERS 

I  must  own  I  am  very  favourably  impressed  with  the 
young  man.  I  think  he  would  be  as  true  as  steel  to 
those  who  had  befriended  him." 

'Nello  had  little  suspected  that  the  tall  middle-aged 
person,  dressed  in  civilian  attire,  whom  he  had  taken 
for  an  official  of  the  Court  or  a  personal  friend  of  the 
Count's,  was  the  Emperor  Alexander  himself,  the  au- 
tocrat of  all  the  Russias,  supposed  to  be  the  strongest 
man  in  Europe,  who  could  bend  a  horse-shoe  between 
his  fingers. 

"  The  one  thing  to  do  now  is  to  bring  this  young 
Italian  and  La  Belle  Quero  together."  The  Emperor 
spoke  in  a  musing  tone.  "  That  is  what  the  Baron 
intends.  And  we  know  besides  that  she  is  suspected 
by  our  secret  police.  Half  the  men  who  go  to  her 
little  parties  are  in  their  black  books ;  about  ZourofF, 
we  have  already  pretty  convincing  evidence.  My 
own  belief  is  that  she  is  one  of  the  prime  movers  in 
the  affair." 

"  So  far,  of  course,  nothing  has  been  brought  home 
to  her.  She  entertains  these  men,  I  know,  but  she 
is  a  foreigner,  a  Spaniard,  and  cannot  be  well  ac- 
quainted with  our  domestic  politics,"  interjected  the 
Count,  who  was  rather  favourably  impressed  with  the 
beautiful  contralto.  "  Still,  in  this  direction,  Cor- 
sini  may  be  very  useful.  He  may  be  able  to  worm 
something  out  of  her." 

"  Well,  Golitzine,  we  will  bring  matters  to  a  head 
as  soon  as  possible,  so  far  as  these  two  people  are  con- 
cerned," commanded  his  Majesty.  "Let  your  wife 
give  a  concert  before  the  week  is  out  and  engage  La 
Belle  Quero  and  this  young  Corsini  for  it." 


THE  INTKIGUEES  117 

The  Count  bowed.  "  I  will  execute  your  orders, 
Sire.  I  agree  it  would  be  politic  to  introduce  them 
under  social  auspices,  rather  than  strictly  business 
ones.  Next  week  he  will  be  installed  at  the  Opera, 
and  must  at  once  come  into  touch  with  her  in  pursu- 
ance of  his  professional  duties." 

"  Precisely.  That  is  just  what  I  wish  to  antici- 
pate. You  have,  as  always,  most  accurately  taken 
my  meaning." 

A  gleam  of  anxiety  came  into  Golitzine's  eyes  as 
he  ventured  to  give  a  word  of  warning. 

"  I  trust  that  your  Majesty  does  not  propose  to  do 
me  the  honor  of  attending  this  function  ?  " 

"  Why  not  ?  I  had  rather  thought  of  coming,  in 
order  to  learn  from  you  how  the  first  act  of  the  com- 
edy was  going.     What  are  your  objections  ?  " 

"  You  will  remember.  Sire,  the  solemn  warning 
Salmoros  has  given  me:  that  you  should  show  your- 
self in  public  as  little  as  possible.  I  would  beseech 
your  Majesty  to  pay  heed  to  that  warning.  I  can- 
not bar  the  suspects  from  my  house.  Zouroff,  for  ex- 
ample, who  arrives  to-morrow,  must  receive  an  invi- 
tation." 

The  Emperor  indulged  in  an  angry  gesture.  "  It 
has  come  to  something  when  I  have  to  slink  away  and 
hide  myself  from  a  traitor  like  that!  But  you  are 
right.  Count;  Salmoros  is  right.  We  must  bide  our 
time  until  we  can  catch  them  red-handed.  Then, 
Heaven  help  them !  ISTo,  I  will  not  attend  your 
wife's  concert,  from  motives  of  prudence.  But  you 
will  let  me  know  early  next  morning  if  the  scheme  is 
progressing  ?  " 


118  *  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Count  Golitzine  accompanied  his  Royal  Master 
to  the  door;  then  he  returned  to  his  seat  to  meditate 
profoundly  over  what  was  happening. 


CHAPTER  XI 

It  wanted  two  days  to  Nello  Corsini's  assumption 
of  his  post  as  director  of  the  Imperial  Opera,  and 
to-night  was  the  night  of  Countess  Golitzine's  con- 
cert. 

ISTello  was  to  play  to-night  in  his  private  capacity 
of  violinist,  his  fame  having  already  spread  abroad 
through  the  good  offices  of  the  Count.  As  soon  as  he 
took  up  his  office  as  director  he  would  not  be  able  to 
take  on  many  private  engagements.  To  use  the 
language  of  Degrairx,  he  would  be  one  of  the  ex- 
ploiters rather  than  one  of  the  exploited. 

The  saloons  of  the  Countess  were  very  crowded. 
A  rumour  had  gone  around  that  the  Emperor  himself 
would  grace  the  function  with  his  august  presence. 
This  rumour,  as  the  previous  chapter  has  revealed, 
was  a  false  one ;  but  its  circulation  had  provided  the 
hostess  with  many  guests  who  otherwise  would  not 
have  put  in  an  appearance. 

Nello  Corsini,  at  present  unrecognised  by  the  fash- 
ionable crowd  which  had  only  heard  of  him  by  name, 
made  his  way  amongst  the  beautifully  attired  men 
and  women.  There  was  no  familiar  face  amongst 
this  vast  throng.  For  a  moment  he  felt  just  a  little 
home-sick ;  he  thought  of  his  little  sister  Anita.  Oh, 
why  could  he  not  have  brought  her? 

And  then,  suddenly,  his  glance  brightened.     Stand- 

119 


120  THE  INTRIGUEES 

ing  a  foot  in  front  of  him  were  the  grey-haired  Prin- 
cess Zouroff  and  her  radiant,  charming  daughter. 

Nada  stretched  out  a  welcoming  hand.  ^*  We  must 
have  raced  each  other  across  Europe.  I  see  you  have 
your  violin-case  with  you.     You  are  going  to  play." 

"  Yes,  and  I  shall  certainly  play  your  favourite.  I 
arrived  just  a  day  or  two  in  front  of  you,  and  of 
course,  you  have  not  heard  of  my  good  fortune. 
Through  the  offices  of  Count  Golitzine,  I  have  been 
appointed  to  the  post  of  Director  of  the  Imperial 
Opera." 

The  young  girl  opened  her  eyes  wide ;  and  turned 
to  her  mother.  "  What  do  you  think  of  that,  dear- 
est ?  Signor  Corsini  is  appointed  to  the  directorship 
of  the  Imperial  Opera." 

The  elder  woman  smiled,  and  replied  in  her  calm, 
quiet  accents,  directing  her  gaze  at  the  young  Ital- 
ian, 

"  I  told  you,  Signor,  that  the  name  of  Salmoros 
was  one  to  conjure  with  in  Russia." 

Nello  was  about  to  reply,  when  the  young  Princess 
put  her  finger  to  her  lips.  A  sudden  hush  had  spread 
over  the  assembly.  A  beautiful  young  Spanish  wo- 
man had  just  ascended  the  small  platform  —  a  young 
woman  known  by  the  affectionate  nickname  of  La 
Belle  Quero. 

She  sang  the  well-known  song  from  Lucrezia, 
Borgia,  "  II  Segreto  per  esse  felice,"  in  her  deep, 
resonant,  contralto  tones.  She  sang  it  with  a  vigour 
and  abandon  which  placed  beyond  question  the  fact 
that  she  was  a  superb  artist,  as  well  as  a  beautiful 
woman. 


THE  INTKIGUERS  121 

When  she  had  finished,  there  was  tremendous  ap- 
plause. An  encore  was  insisted  on  and  granted  by 
the  obliging  prima  donna.  The  Count  Golitzine 
himself  led  the  great  singer  from  the  platform  to  a 
seat.  His  keen  eye  had  already  observed  Corsini  in 
attendance  on  the  Zouroffs.  He  beckoned  to  the 
young  man,  who  made  a  hasty  apology  to  the  Prin- 
cess and  her  daughter. 

"  I  have  the  pleasure  of  presenting  one  great  artist 
to  another,"  said  the  Count  in  his  suavest  tones. 
"  Signer  Corsini,  who  will  presently  enchant  us  on 
the  violin,  to  Madame  Quero,  who  has  already  capti- 
vated us  with  her  liquid  notes.  You  have  no  doubt 
already  heard,  Madame,  that  next  week  Signer  Cor- 
sini takes  over  the  post  of  Director  of  the  Imperial 
Opera." 

Madame  Quero  —  she  had  a  husband  knocking 
about  somewhere  in  Spain,  who  never  came  into  her 
calculations  or  scheme  of  existence  —  flashed  at  the 
handsome  young  Italian  a  very  charming  and  pro- 
vocative smile. 

"  We  shall  have  to  work  together  very  soon,  shall 
we  not,  Signer  ?  I  am  afraid  you  will  find  me  a 
somewhat  difficult  person.  It  is  just  as  well  we 
should  meet  first  on  neutral  ground.  Perhaps  when 
we  do  quarrel,  we  may  be  disposed  to  forgive  each 
other  the  more  readily  for  that  fact." 

Nello  was  becoming  quite  a  man  of  the  world  in 
this  rarefied  atmosphere  into  which  he  had  been  so 
suddenly  projected.  He  replied  to  the  raillery  of  the 
beautiful  singer  in  becoming  language.  She  swept 
an  approving  glance  over  him. 


122  THE  INTRIGUERS 

"  I  think  we  shall  soon  be  very  good  friends,"  she 
said  in  a  gracious  voice.  "  Our  present  Director  is 
a  bit  of  a  bully,  and  I  believe  hates  women."  She 
shrugged  her  shapely  shoulders.  "  Well,  he  is  an- 
cient and  cantankerous.  You  are  young;  I  am  sure 
you  do  not  hate  women,  just  because  they  are  the  in- 
ferior sex." 

The  smile  that  accompanied  the  words  became 
more  seductive.  Corsini  was  a  little  put  to  it  to  pre- 
serve his  equilibrium.  He  had  been  welcomed  cor- 
dially by  a  Princess  and  her  charming  daughter. 
Here  was  a  celebrated  prima  donna  of  great  beauty, 
openly  declaring  that  she  was  ready  to  flirt  with  him 
—  ready  to  be  made  love  to,  if  he  were  disposed  that 
way. 

He  paid  her  some  gallant  compliments,  of  the  kind 
that  come  readily  to  the  lips  of  members  of  the  Latin 
races ;  but,  as  he  did  so,  his  glance  stole  unconsciously 
to  the  lovely  young  Princess,  and  involuntarily  there 
came  into  his  eyes  a  light  that  was  noted  by  the  ob- 
servant Spanish  woman. 

"  You  admire  the  Princess  ISTada  Zouroff  im- 
mensely. Is  it  not  so?  You  have  a  good  excuse; 
she  is  certainly  very  beautiful.  An  exquisite  bud 
rather  than  a  full-grown  rose,  eh,  my  friend  ? " 

"  Perhaps,  Madame,"  replied  the  diplomatic  Ital- 
ian. "But  all  flowers  are  beautiful,  whether  in  bud 
or  full  blossom." 

"  For  myself,  were  I  a  man,  I  should  not  be  very 
greatly  attracted  by  immaturity.  We  are  using  flow- 
ers in  the  form  of  an  allegory.  Of  course  we  are 
really  speaking  of  women."     She  threw  at  him  one  of 


THE  INTRIGUERS  123 

her  most  dazzling  smiles.  There  was  nothing  imma- 
ture, nothing  of  the  ripening  bud  about  the  opulent 
beauty  of  La  Belle  Quero. 

Corsini,  seeing  what  was  expected  of  him,  returned 
that  alluring  smile  with  a  glance  of  respectful  admira- 
tion. He  had  already  gathered  that  she  was  a  pop- 
ular idol,  and  wielded  great  influence  in  the  musical 
world. 

Personally,  he  preferred  the  simpler  and  more 
modest  loveliness  of  the  charming  young  Princess. 
But  it  was  politic  to  win  the  good  opinion  of  such  an 
influential  personage,  and  she  was  evidently  not  the 
sort  of  woman  to  tolerate  rivalry. 

For  the  next  five  minutes  he  made  himself  as  agree- 
able as  possible,  and  the  handsome  singer  was  ob- 
viously impressed.  Their  conversation  was  inter- 
rupted by  the  arrival  of  the  conductor  of  the  concert, 
who  intimated  to  Corsini  that  his  would  be  the  next 
turn. 

Madame  Quero  rose.  "  I  must  not  keep  you. 
Well,  I  hope  we  shall  be  very  great  friends.  I  shall 
stay  to  hear  your  solo  and  then  I  shall  leave.  I  feel 
just  a  little  fatigued  to-night;  not  quit^  in  the  mood 
for  this  sort  of  scene,  gay  and  brilliant  as  it  is." 

With  a  gracious  inclination  of  her  handsome  head, 
she  walked  with  her  graceful,  swimming  gait  to  the 
entrance  of  the  big  saloon.  Arrived  at  the  doors  she 
waited  till  Corsini  was  on  the  platform  and  listened 
attentively  to  his  performance.  There  was  great  ap- 
plause when  he  had  finished,  and  she  clapped  her 
hands  enthusiastically.  The  artist  in  her  responded 
to  the  artist  in  him.     It  would  not  be  true  to  say  that 


124  THE  INTRIGUEES 

she  had  not  heard  greater  masters,  but  there  was  a 
subtle  quality  in  his  playing  that  revealed  true  genius. 
He  always  excelled  in  the  appealing  and  sentimental 
passages. 

But  while  she  was  listening,  to  all  appearances  with 
the  closest  attention,  her  glance  was  ever  roaming 
through  the  open  doors,  down  the  grand  staircase. 
It  was  evident  that  she  was  looking  for  somebody,  and 
restless  and  disappointed  because  of  his  non-arrival. 

And  then,  just  as  she  was  preparing  to  leave,  a  sud- 
den light  came  into  her  beautiful  eyes.  The  tall  sol- 
dierly figure  of  Zouroff  was  ascending  the  stairs. 

Her  smile  was  just  a  little  cold,  her  tones  reproach- 
ful. 

"  I  was  just  going ;  you  promised  to  be  here  in  time 
to  hear  me  sing.     Why  are  you  so  late  ?  " 

The  Prince  drew  her  a  little  out  of  earshot.  He 
spoke  with  his  usual  ease  and  assurance.  He  ad- 
mired the  beautiful  singer  more  than  any  woman  of 
his  acquaintance,  but  he  never  spoiled  any  member  of 
the  gentler  sex  with  too  great  a  display  of  politeness 
or  solicitude. 

"  Is  it  so  very  difficult  to  guess  ?  There  are  cer- 
tain things  that  must  always  come  first  in  a  man's 
life." 

"  Spare  me  that  ancient  platitude.  You  have  in- 
dulged in  it  so  often."  Her  voice  was  restrained  and 
low,  but  there  was  a  dangerous  gleam  in  her  eyes. 
Zouroff  appealed  in  many  ways  to  her  passionate  but 
rather  hard  nature,  but  there  were  times  when  his 
indifference,  his  brutal  frankness,  cut  her  to  the 
quick. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  125 

But  the  Prince  was  not  a  man  to  pay  more  than 
passing  heed  to  the  symptoms  of  a  woman's  gathering 
displeasure.  By  nature  he  was  a  savage.  To  a  cer- 
tain extent  he  was  susceptible  to  female  beauty  and 
fascination,  but  deep  down  in  his  heart  he  had  a  pro- 
found contempt  for  women,  for  their  uncontrolled 
feelings,  their  little  tricks  of  sentiment,  their  abject 
subservience  to  their  emotions. 

"  Things  go  well,"  he  said,  in  his  hard,  level  tones. 
"  I  trust  we  shall  not  have  to  wait  very  long  now. 
We  held  a  very  important  meeting  to-night;  it  was 
prolonged  beyond  the  hour  I  expected.  That  is  why 
I  am  late  and  could  not  get  here  in  time  to  hear  you 
sing. 

The  beautiful  singer  seemed  but  half  appeased  by 
this  rather  curt  apology.  It  confirmed  what  he  had 
told  her  so  often  before,  that  overwhelming  ambition, 
the  advancement  of  his  political  schemes,  were  all 
powerful  influences  in  his  life;  that  a  woman's  de- 
voted affection  weighed  but  as  a  feather  in  the  scale 
against  these. 

"  Let  us  talk  of  other  things,"  she  said,  speaking  in 
a  tone  of  assumed  lightness. 

"  But  I  thought  you  took  a  great  interest  in  these 
matters.  At  any  rate  you  have  pretended  to."  Ilis 
voice  was  hard  and  rasping,  and  there  was  a  sneer  in 
it,  an  angry  gleam  in  his  eyes.  He  could  not  bear 
to  be  crossed. 

"  At  the  proper  time  and  place.  But  I  don't 
choose  to  talk  of  just  one  subject  every  moment  we 
spend  together.  I  am  pleased,  my  friend,  that  the 
prospects  are  so  good.     And  now,  for  a  few  seconds^ 


126  THE  INTRIGUERS 

shall  we  talk  of  those  other  things  which  are  not  quit« 
so  unimportant  to  the  world  in  general  as  they  appear 
to  you." 

"  And  those  other  things  ?  "  inquired  Zouroff  in 
his  surliest  and  most  repellant  manner. 

"  Well,  for  example,  we  have  just  heen  listening 
to  our  new  Director  of  the  Opera,  Signer  Corsini. 
He  has  played  some  very  beautiful  things ;  he  is  a 
fine  artist.     Have  you  met  him  yet  ?  " 

Zouroff  frowned  heavily.  "  Yes,  I  have.  The 
fellow  played  once  at  the  Embassy  in  London,  and 
my  mother  and  sister  raved  about  him.  You  know 
I  am  no  judge  of  instrumental  music  —  rather  dis- 
like it  than  otherwise.  And  this  young  man  seemed 
to  me  particularly  objectionable." 

"  I  wonder  why  ?  "  inquired  the  prima  donna  with 
a  most  innocent  expression.  "  Just  because  your 
mother  and  sister  admired  his  genius  ?  What  a  very 
insufficient  reason." 

Zouroff  vouchsafed  no  reply  to  this  delicate  rail- 
lery, and  Madame  Quero  continued  in  the  same  de- 
tached, indifferent  tones.  "  The  Count  introduced 
him  to  me ;  we  had  a  long  chat  together.  I  think  he 
is  a  most  charming  young  man,  quite  unaffected,  with 
delightful  manners  and  very  handsome.  I  predict 
he  will  be  excessively  popular." 

"  I  wonder  if  you  realise  how  much  you  are  annoy- 
ing me  when  you  talk  in  this  manner  ? "  asked  the 
Prince  roughly. 

La  Belle  Quero  held  out  her  hand.  "  My  friend, 
it  seems  to  me  you  are  in  rather  a  savage  mood  to- 
night, and  I  am  not  in  the  best  of  tempers  myself. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  127 

If  we  talk  much  longer  we  maj  have  a  serious  quarrel. 
I  will  saj  good-night." 

"  Good-night,"  said  the  Prince  in  a  low  and  harsh 
voice.  "  Perhaps  it  is  as  well  we  should  separate. 
There  are  a  lot  of  people  here  I  must  speak  to." 

Madame  Quero  turned  towards  the  staircase.  He 
strode  after  her  and  laid  his  big,  strong  hand  none  too 
gently  on  her  arm. 

"  And  please  listen  once  and  for  all  to  me.  If  it 
pleases  you  to  amuse  yourself  with  this  young  Cor- 
sini,  or  for  the  matter  of  that  with  any  other  effem- 
inate foreigner,  you  need  fear  no  interference  from 
me.     Understand  that." 

Tears  of  rage  came  into  the  beautiful  eyes. 
"  Take  your  hand  away,  you  savage,  you  are  hurting 
me.  As  for  what  you  have  just  said  in  your  usual 
brutal  manner,  I  perfectly  grasp  your  meaning.  And 
please  also  to  understand  this  from  me.  If  I  choose 
to  turn  my  fancy  in  that  or  any  other  direction,  I 
shall  not  trouble  to  consult  you,  much  less  beg  for 
your  permission." 

With  a  muttered  curse  Zouroff  released  her  arm, 
whose  delicate  flesh  he  had  bruised,  turned  on  hia 
heel  and  re-entered  the  concert  saloon. 

And  next  morning,  Golitzine,  whose  sharp  eyes  had 
noted  the  pleasant  talk  between  Corsini  and  the 
beautiful  singer,  also  the  way  in  which  Zouroff  had 
flung  away  from  her  as  she  descended  the  grand  stair- 
case, was  able  to  report  to  his  Imperial  Master  that 
the  first  act  in  the  little  comedy  had  opened  well. 


CHAPTER  XII 

The  relations  between  the  handsome  singer  and 
the  new  Director,  so  pleasantly  established  on  the 
night  of  the  Countess  Golitzine's  concert,  progressed 
very  smoothly.  La  Belle  Quero  was  unwontedly 
gentle  and  submissive  in  her  acceptance  of  any  pro- 
fessional suggestions  from  the  handsome  young  Ital- 
ian. 

It  was  the  general  gossip  that  she  was  a  good  deal 
in  love  with  Corsini,  and  wavering  in  her  allegiance 
to  the  masterful  and  tyrannical  Prince.  Nello  him- 
self took  the  situation  very  calmly.  In  the  first  place, 
Madame  Quero  was  a  married  woman;  to  fall  in 
love  with  her,  were  he  so  disposed,  would  be  hope- 
less, unless  he  resolved  to  risk  a  scandal  that  might  ad- 
versely affect  their'  respective  careers. 

And  more  important  still,  although  he  felt  for  her 
a  quite  warm  friendship,  he  was  not  the  least  in  love. 
Her  full  and  opulent  beauty  possessed  little  attrac- 
tion for  him. 

Although  at  present  he  did  not  fully  realise  the 

fact,  the  serene  loveliness  of  the  young  Princess  ISTada, 

combined  with  her  girlish  esprit,  her  air  of  rank  and 

position,  had  cast  a  spell  over  him  that  he  could  not 

shake  off.     She  would  always  be  the  lady  of  his 

dreams,  although  by  the  exigencies  of  their  different 

stations,  he  would  be  compelled  to  worship  her  in 

secret  and  from  afar. 

128 


THE  INTKIGUERS  129 

She  was  surrounded  with  the  halo  of  birth  and 
great  position.  Madame  Quero,  although  a  woman 
of  genius  and  considerable  brain  power,  had  sprung 
from  the  peasant  class.  Her  husband,  whom  she  had 
married  when  little  more  than  a  child,  had  been  a 
poor  fisherman.  She  made  him  a  handsome  allow- 
ance, on  the  condition  that  he  never  intruded  his 
rights  nor  exposed  her  to  the  annoyance  of  his  pres- 
ence. 

Her  glorious  voice  had  lifted  her  from  grinding 
poverty  and  obscurity,  her  quick  mentality  had  en- 
abled her  to  acquire  much,  to  adapt  herself,  with  more 
than  fair  success,  to  her  new  environment.  But  cer- 
tain traces  of  her  humble  origin  showed  themselves 
very  plainly  at  times,  especially  in  moments  of  ex- 
citement —  vulgarity  of  gesture,  some  common  terma 
of  speech,  picked  up  from  the  gutter  where  she  had 
played  with  other  bare-footed  children  like  herself. 

To  a  man  of  Corsini's  naturally  refined  and  ele- 
vated temperament,  these  unconscious  revelations 
camo  as  a  disturbing  shock.  And  the  more  intimate 
he  became  with  her,  the  more  frequently  she  revealed 
herself,  having  no  longer  occasion  to  wear  a  protect- 
ing mask. 

In  a  palace  or  a  fashionable  drawing-room,  with 
that  careful  mask  on.  La  Belle  Quero  was  one  person- 
age, most  careful  as  to  speech  and  manner.  In  her 
dressing-room,  or  in  familiar  intercourse  with  a  fel- 
low artist,  not  of  the  great  world,  only  belonging  to 
the  aristocracy  of  talent,  she  was  quite  another  being, 
with  the  solecisms,  the  occasional  coarse  flashes  of 
humor,  of  the  Biscayan  peasant. 


130  THE  INTRIGUERS 

N'o ;  although  La  Belle  Qiiero  was  so  much  nearer 
to  him  from  the  social  point  of  view,  for  his  origin 
had  not  been  so  much  more  distinguished  than  her 
own,  he  could  not  feel  fascinated,  in  spite  of  her  ob- 
vious liking  for  him. 

Golitzine,  who  had  spies  everywhere,  in  the  dress- 
ing-rooms of  actresses,  in  the  boudoirs  of  great  ladies, 
knew  all  there  was  to  know  about  the  friendship  of 
the  conductor  and  the  prima  donna.  Was  Corsini 
taking  advantage  of  his  opportunities  to  acquire  the 
woman's  confidence,  so  that  it  might  serve  his  em- 
ployer's interest  ? 

But  Corsini  was  only  being  used  as  a  pawn  in  the 
game.  He  did  not  even  know  that  he  was  being  used 
even  in  this  humble  capacity.  He  must  have  guessed 
that  there  were  some  subtle  motives  behind  this  sud- 
den and  unexpected  preferment;  but  how  could  he 
possibly  guess  what  these  motives  were? 

If  the  young  Italian  was  going  to  be  made  really 
useful,  he  would  have  to  be  enlightened.  Salmoros, 
in  his  letter,  had  made  a  point  of  his  being  kept  in 
the  dark,  fearful  probably  ot  some  scruples  on  his 
part  on  being  told  that  he  was  to  play  the  role  of  a 

spy- 

He,  Golitzine,  was  loath  to  go  against  the  advice  of 
Salmoros,  but  astute  and  shrewd  as  the  financier  was, 
he  could  not  have  thought  out  the  situation  with  his 
usual  judgment.  The  time  had  certainly  arrived 
when  Corsini  must  be  told  frankly  the  part  he  was 
expected  to  play. 

After  all,  there  was  nothing  in  the  least  dishonour- 
able in  what  he  would  be  asked  to  do.     Salmoros  and 


THE  INTRIGUERS  131 

the  Count  between  them,  with  the  sanction  of  the 
Emperor,  had  set  him  on  the  high  road  to  fame  and 
fortune.  Their  enemies  were  a  band  of  traitors, 
headed  by  Zouroif,  assisted  by  Madame  Quero.  He 
must  and  would,  in  honour  bound,  prove  his  alleg- 
iance to  his  benefactors. 

Having  made  up  his  mind,  it  was  not  long  before 
the  energetic  Count  summoned  the  young  Italian  to 
a  private  interview  in  the  Winter  Palace.  As  on  the 
previous  occasion,  the  same  tall  stranger  was  present, 
lounging  about  the  room  —  the  stranger  in  whom 
Kello  was  later  on  to  discover  the  Czar  of  all  the 
Russias. 

Golitzine  did  not  introduce  them,  but  he  made  a 
brief  allusion.  ''  We  are  going  to  have  a  rather  con- 
fidential conversation,  Signer,  but  you  can  speat 
freely  before  this  gentleman.  He  is  perfectly  in  my 
confidence." 

Nello  bowed,  feeling  a  little  embarrassed.  He 
would  have  been  more  at  his  ease  if  the  tall  stranger 
had  not  been  present. 

The  Count  proceeded  in  his  smooth,  conciliatory 
accents.  "  I  hear  very  flattering  accounts,  so  far,  of 
your  directorship.  You  have  excited  less  envy  than  I 
expected,  under  the  rather  unusual  circumstances. 
And  you  have  also  won  some  golden  opinions.  I  am 
told  that  Madame  Quero,  in  particular,  has  distin- 
guished you  with  a  somewhat  marked  friendship. 
And  she  is  reported  to  be  a  rather  difficult  woman  to 
get  on  with.  I  know  our  late  Director  found  her  so, 
to  his  frequent  annoyance." 
I  Nolle  blushed  deeply.     He  was  very  sensitive,  and 


132  THE  INTRIGUERS 

it  vexed  him  to  find  that  his  friendship  with  the 
handsome  Spanish  woman  had  been  already  com- 
mented on.  If  these  comments  had  reached  Golit- 
zine,  they  had  probably  also  reached  the  Princess 
Zoiiroff  and  her  daughter. 

"  The  relations  between  Madame  Qiiero  and  my- 
self are,  I  am  pleased  to  say,  most  cordial.  Being  the 
most  distinguished  member  of  the  company,  as  she 
certainly  is,  it  insures  smooth  working  all  round," 
answered  the  young  Italian. 

"  Quite,  quite,"  assented  the  suave  Count.  "  Of 
course  you  have  many  opportunities  of  meeting  and 
chatting.  I  hear  that  our  friend,  Prince  Zouroff, 
is  much  chagrined  that  the  charming  lady  in  question 
is  friendly  with  you.  You  have  met  the  Prince,  I 
presume.  I  should  like  to  know  your  real  opinion 
—  of  course  in  the  strictest  confidence." 

The  flush  on  Corsini's  face  deepened.  He  had  met 
the  Prince  now  on  several  occasions  at  different 
houses  in  the  city,  and  that  arrogant  nobleman  had  al- 
ways treated  him  with  marked  hauteur^  hardly  taking 
the  trouble  to  acknowledge  his  polite  salutation. 

"  I  should  say,  your  Excellency,  that  he  is  sadly 
deficient  in  the  common  courtesies  of  life." 

There  was  a  subdued  laugh  from  the  man  in  civil- 
ian clothes,  standing  in  the  bay  window.  He  turned 
round  for  a  second  and  exchanged  a  meaning  glance 
with  the  Count.  Golitzine  knew  what  that  glance 
was  intended  to  convey.  "  There  was  no  love  lost 
between  these  two." 

"  I  think,  Signor  Corsini,  you  have  very  pithily 
defined  our  friend's  deficiencies.     If  he  could  have 


THE  INTEIGUERS  133 

controlled  his  somewhat  brutal  impulses  and  acquired 
a  little  more  polish,  he  might  have  advanced  farther 
in  his  career  than  now  seems  possible." 

There  was  a  brief  pause,  which  was  broken  by  the 
Count. 

"  In  the  course  of  these  chats  with  Madame  Quero, 
I  dare  say  you  learn  a  good  deal  of  her  general  habits. 
Women  are  apt  to  get  confidential  with  an  agreeable 
male  friend.  I  expect  she  has  told  you  of  those  se- 
cret little  parties  to  which  only  men  are  admitted, 
which  she  has  at  her  villa  ?  " 

''  I  swear  to  your  Excellency  that  to  me  she  has 
never  breathed  a  word  of  them." 

"  I  quite  believe  you,  Signor.  There  is  good  rea- 
son why  she  should  keep  silence.  Her  last  party  was 
on  Saturday  night.  The  next  time  you  are  chatting 
with  her,  just  mention  it  in  a  casual  way,  and  ask 
her  why  she  does  not  include  you,  tho  Director  of 
the  Opera,  in  her  intimate  circle  ?  " 

"  I  will  certainly  do  so,  Count,"  replied  'ReU.o  just 
a  little  piqued  at  the  information  he  had  received. 
It  was  strange  that  Madame  Quero  had  never  invited 
him  to  one  of  these,  presumably,  select  parties. 

"  By  the  way,"  added  the  Count.  "  If  she  should 
ask  you  where  you  got  your  information  from  I  must 
request  you  not  to  mention  my  name.  Refuse  to 
satisfy  her  curiosity.  I  have  special  reasons  for 
this." 

Nello  promised  that  he  would  obey  the  Count's  in- 
junction, and  rose  to  leave,  under  the  impression  that 
the  interview  was  ended.  But  Golitzino  waved  him 
to  his  seat. 


134  THE  INTEIGUEES 

"  Just  a  few  moments  more,  Signor  Corsini.  I 
want  to  take  you  a  little  farther  into  my  confidence. 
We  all  agree  that  you  are  a  very  capable  artist,  but  I 
suppose  you  may  sometimes  have  wondered  why  your 
way  in  this  country  has  been  made  so  very  easy ;  why, 
in  short,  your  success  has  been  so  rapid." 

"  It  has  occurred  to  me  many  times,  your  Excel- 
lency, but  I  did  not  like  to  ask  directly  for  an  explan- 
ation," replied  the  young  violinist  quietly.  "  I 
thought  that  would  come  at  the  proper  time  and 
place.  Am  I  correct  in  assuming  that  I  am  to  be 
given  it  now  ?  " 

"  It  shall  be  given  you  now,"  answered  the  Count 
in  an  equally  equable  voice.  "  And  I  am  going  to 
speak  very  plainly,  Signor  Corsini.  Salmoros  ad- 
mired your  talent  greatly;  he  told  me  that  in  a  pri- 
vate letter,  and  he  wished  to  push  you  for  reason  of 
that ;  but  he  also  perceived  in  you  different  qualities 
that  would  ser\^e  his  own  purposes  —  purposes  which 
are  closelv  associated  with  the  welfare  of  the  Russian 
Empire." 

The  Count  suddenly  rose  and  waved  his  hand  in 
the  direction  of  the  silent  man,  lounging  in  the  bay 
window. 

"  I  am  going  to  make  a  somewhat  dramatic  intro- 
duction. I  present  Signor  Corsini,  the  protege  of 
Baron  Salmoros,  to  the  Emperor  Alexander  himself, 
who  has  been  a  silent  witness  of  our  interview." 

Corsini  rose  and  bowed  profoundly.  Unused  to 
the  atmosphere  of  courts,  he  was  bewildered  as  to  the 
exact  etiquette  on  such  occasions.  Ought  he  to  kneel 
and  kiss  the  Emperor's  hand?     He  had  a  hazy  no- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  135 

tion  he  had  read  somewhere  that  this  was  the  pre- 
scribed ritual. 

The  Emperor  put  an  end  to  his  embarrassment  by 
advancing  and  holding  out  to  him  that  strong  hand 
which  could  bend  a  horse-shoe  between  its  fingers." 

"  I  am  delighted  to  welcome  you,  Signor.  Sal- 
moros  has  vouched  for  you.  Our  good  friend,  Golit- 
zine,  who  is  a  keen  judge  of  men,  assures  me  that  you 
are  loyal  and  true  to  those  who  befriend  you,  as  we 
have  done." 

"  My  services,  for  what  they  are  worth,  are  entirely 
at  your  Majesty's  disposal,"  answered  Corsini  fer- 
vently. It  was  but  natural  he  should  be  a  little  over- 
come by  the  gracious  condescension  of  such  a  high 
personage.  He  was  not  even  petty  enough  to  be  cha- 
grined by  the  discovery  that  his  sudden  advancement 
was  not  due  solely  to  his  artistic  genius. 

The  Emperor,  having  said  just  what  was  needful, 
retired  to  the  seclusion  of  his  bay  window.  The  as- 
tute Count  resumed  the  conversation. 

"  I  trust,  Signor  Corsini,  there  are  no  resei*vations 
in  your  expressions  of  loyalty  to  those  who  have  ad- 
vanced and  befriended  you  ?  " 

"  I  am  afraid  I  do  not  quite  follow  your  Excel- 
lency." 

"  Tut,  tut,  my  good  young  friend.  I  am  quite  sure 
we  shall  understand  each  other  very  quickly.  La 
Belle  Quero,  according  to  report,  is  very  enamoured 
of  you  —  an  artist  like  herself,  a  handsome  and  pre- 
sentable young  man ;  vastly,  in  my  opinion,  superior 
to  the  brutal  ZourofF.  Now,  this  important  thing  is 
—  what  are  your  sentiments  towards  her  ?  " 


136  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Nello's  answer  was  very  frank.  "  I  have  grown 
to  look  upon  her  simply  as  a  kind  and  good  friend." 

Golitzine  drew  a  breath  of  relief.  Tt  was  as  he  had 
hoped.  The  young  musician  had  placed  his  fancy  on 
one  far  removed  from  him,  by  rank  and  position. 
The  comparatively  coarse  charm  of  the  handsome 
singer  could  not  compete  with  the  youthful  beauty  of 
the  Princess  Nada.  A  benign  expression  stole  over 
his  lined  face. 

"  And  if  you  knew  that  Madame  Quero  was  taking 
advantage  of  the  hospitality  of  this  country,  of  her 
apparently  neutral  position,  to  conspire  and  plot  with 
his  Majesty's  sworn  enemies,  you  would  be  hand  and 
glove  with  us  to  find  out  what  you  could  in  order  to 
frustrate  her  designs  ?  " 

"  Assuredly,  your  Excellency."  Nello  had  started 
from  his  seat  and  spoken  with  fervour.  "  My  duty 
and  my  allegiance  is  to  the  Emperor,  yourself,  and 
the  Baron  Salmoros.  Madame  Quero,  good  friend 
as  I  believed  her  to  be,  counts  as  nothing." 

"  That  is  precisely  what  I  want  to  be  assured  of," 
said  the  Count.  "  Now,  Signer,  put  that  question  I 
suggested  to  ]\Iadame  Quero.  It  may  be  she  will  tell 
you  a  deliberate  lie.  It  may  be  she  will  seek  to  en- 
tangle you  in  this  plot,  and  make  you  one  of  the  con- 
spirators as  the  price  of  her  favour.  I  should  pre- 
fer that,  but  I  think  she  is  too  clever  to  do  it.  Any- 
way, report  to  me  how  things  go,  which  way  they  go. 
And  I  rely  upon  it,  that  you  are  a  faithful  servant  of 
the  House  of  Romanoff." 

Nello  assured  him  that  he  was,  and  returned  to  his 
hotel  full  of  thought. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  137 

So  this  was  what  the  apparently  benevolent  Sal- 
moros  had  secured  him  for,  to  be  a  spy  of  the  Russian 
Government.  At  first  he  felt  a  little  indignant.  La 
Belle  Quero  might  be  a  traitress,  a  conspirator,  but 
was  it  his  mission  to  unmask  her? 

Then  his  shrewd  Latin  sense  came  to  his  aid. 
Whatever  their  ulterior  motives,  his  powerful  friends 
had  incidentally  helped  him,  and  his  boimden  duty 
was  to  them.  If  the  handsome  Spanish  woman,  who 
should  have  no  part  or  lot  in  the  political  concerns  of 
Russia,  had  chosen  to  mix  herself  up  with  a  lot  of 
base  intriguers,  that  was  her  business.  It  was,  after 
all,  diamond  cut  diamond. 

Perhaps  he  was  the  more  impelled  to  the  cause 
which  the  wily  Golitzine  had  urged  him  to  take,  by 
the  rumour  in  the  circles  where  he  chiefly  mixed  that 
the  names  of  Prince  Zouroff  and  La  Belle  Quero  were 
generally  coupled  together.  It  was  currently  re- 
ported that  as  soon  as  the  beautiful  singer  could  get 
a  divorce  from  her  complacent  fisherman,  she  would 
marry  the  Prince.  But  in  Roman  Catholic  countries 
divorce  is  not  easily  to  be  obtained,  and  the  fascinat- 
ing Madame  Quero  was  still  united  to  the  lover  of 
her  youth.  And  according  to  further  rumour,  Zour- 
off  was  not  inclined  to  hurry  matters  on.  As  a  mat- 
ter of  fact,  he  was  much  more  interested  in  other 
things.  Perhaps,  also,  the  lady  was  not  quite  so 
keen  as  formerly. 

So  Xello  resolved  to  play  his  part,  the  part  that  it 
was  his  boundcn  duty  to  play.  If  the  Spanish  wo- 
man and  her  confederates  were  playing  a  low-down 
game,  he  was  playing  a  straight  one  by  outwittino; 


138  THE  INTRIGUERS 

them,  in  the  interests  of  the  Imperial  House  which 
had  shown  him  such  remarkable  favour. 

That  night  the  two  met,  as  Madame  Quero  was 
going  to  her  dressing-room.  She  had  sung  better 
than  ever  that  evening,  never  had  she  aroused  greater 
enthusiasm.  Her  eyes  were  sparkling,  her  cheeks 
were  glowing  with  trumph.  She  met  Corsini's  cold 
glance,  and  her  smile  faded  away. 

"  You  do  not  seem  very  amiable  to-night,  Sign  or. 
Have  I  had  the  misfortune  to  offend  you  in  any 
way  ?  " 

The  appealing  look  she  darted  at  him  was  cer- 
tanly  that  of  a  woman  more  or  less  in  love.  For  a 
moment,  ]^ello  felt  a  little  ashamed  of  the  part  he  had 
to  play;  it  seemed  cowardly  to  hurt  a  woman.  But 
after  all,  his  duty  was  to  his  benefactors,  and  if  she 
was  the  traitress  they  alleged  she  deserved  no  mercy. 

!Nello  bowed,  but  made  no  immediate  response. 
He  was  on  the  point  of  moving  away,  when  she  laid 
a  detaining  hand  upon  his  arm. 

"  Stay,  I  beseech  you !  Why  are  you  so  cold  ?  I 
have  sung  better  than  ever  to-night,  and  yet  you  offer 
me  no  word  of  congratulation.  Many  a  time,  when  I 
have  sung  badly,  you  have  been  profuse  of  your 
praises,  and  I  thought  we  were  such  good  friends !  " 

'NeWo  saw  his  opportunity  at  once.  "  I  used  to 
think,  Madame,  that  we  were  very  good  friends." 

"  And  has  anything  happened  to  alter  your  pre- 
vious opinion  ?  "  inquired  Madame  Quero  in  a  falter- 
ing voice. 

Again  the  young  Italian  made  a  movement  to  pass 
on,  and  again  the  impetuous  woman  detained  him. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  139 

"  If  you  please,  we  will  not  leave  it  where  it  is, 
with  studied  coldness  on  your  part.  Please  tell  me 
how  I  have  offended  you." 

Nello  spoke  with  exaggerated  courtesy.  "  Ma- 
dame, I  am  too  humble  to  have  the  right  to  be  of- 
fended. I,  the  mere  Director  of  an  Opera,  you,  one 
of  the  idols  of  Europe." 

The  prima  donna  stamped  an  impatient  foot. 
"  Signor  Corsini,  you  are  trying  my  patience  unduly. 
It  is  easy  to  see  that  you  have  some  fancied  griev- 
ance. Will  you  be  good  enough  to  explain  what  it 
is,  or  at  any  rate  the  nature  of  it  ?  " 

Corsini  looked  at  her  steadily.  "  Madame,  you 
have  been  good  enough  to  call  me  your  friend.  If 
that  is  the  case,  why  have  I  not  been  invited  to  those 
little  private  suppers  at  your  villa  ?  So  many  go, 
that  one  more  would  not  have  made  a  serious  addi- 
tion." 

Her  face  went  as  white  as  death.  "  Who  has  told 
you  such  a  falsehood  ?  "  she  stammered. 

ISTello  never  took  his  eyes  off  her.  The  white 
face,  the  stammering  tongue,  proved  that  Golitzine 
was  right.  She  had  secret  parties  at  her  villa,  and 
she  was  dismayed  to  find  that  anybody  had  heard  of 
them. 

"  A  friend  of  mine,  whose  name  I  must  not  reveal, 
Madame." 

Without  another  word  Madame  Quero  went  to  her 
dressing-room.  From  there  she  despatched  a  hasty 
note  to  Prince  Zouroff. 


CHAPTER  XIII 

La  Belle  Quero  and  the  Prince  Zouroff  were  sit- 
ting together  in  the  boudoir  of  the  small  villa  on  the 
outskirts  of  St.  Petersburg. 

They  were  both  smoking  cigarettes.  Madame 
Quero  looked  anxious  and  perturbed,  Zouroff  surly 
and  annoyed. 

"  Inez,  you  are  very  unreasonable.  Why  have 
you  dragged  me  here  at  this  time  of  night  ?  If  your 
note  had  not  said  '  very  urgent,'  I  should  not  have 
taken  myself  away  from  more  important  matters." 

La  Belle  Quero  flicked  the  ash  of  her  cigarette  on 
the  carpet.  "  Once,  my  friend,  you  would  have 
come  on  the  slightest  request  from  me.  I  should 
not  have  been  compelled  to  mark  my  note  urgent, 
eh?" 

The  Prince  answered  a  little  awkwardly.  "  Don't 
let  us  be  too  sentimental,  dear  child.  We  have  been 
good  friends,  we  have  got  to  a  closer  degree  of  com- 
radeship. Is  it  not  an  ideal  relationship  ?  Well, 
what  have  you  to  tell  me  ?  You  have  not  summoned 
me  here  for  nothing,  I  am  sure  ?  " 

"  Not  even  for  the  pleasure  of  your  society,  my 
most  charming  and  exquisite  Boris?"  inquired  the 
prima  donna ,  in  a  tone  of  raillery. 

The  Prince  frovsmed.     At  the  moment,  the  light 

caprices  of  women  did  not  appeal  to  him. 

140 


THE  INTRIGUERS  141 

"  You  are  talking  nonsense,  my  dear  Inez.  Let 
us  come  to  the  point." 

The  Spanish  woman  came  to  the  point  at  once, 
with  an  angry  glitter  in  her  eyes.  What  a  pity  that 
Zouroff  was  not  a  little  more  gentle  in  his  dealings 
with  women ! 

"  Our  little  secret  evening  parties  have  been  dis- 
covered, that  is  all.  It  may  give  you  and  me  food 
for  reflection." 

The  Prince  drew  a  deep  breath.  "  Discovered ! 
It  is  impossible.     Who  dares  to  suspect  us  ?  " 

"  It  does  not  matter  who  suspects  us.  It  is 
enough  that  we  are  suspected.  I  suppose  the  Secret 
Police  have  been  at  work." 

Zouroff  thought  a  few  moments,  and  then  a  sud- 
den light  came  to  him.  He  crossed  over  and 
grasped  the  beautiful  young  woman  by  the  arm. 

"  Tell  me  the  truth  and  don't  palter  with  me,"  he 
thundered  in  his  harsh,  raucous  tones.  "  Where 
have  you  this  information  ?  But  I  can  answer  the 
question  myself.  It  is  from  that  white-livered  Ital- 
ian, Corsini,     He  is  a  spy  in  the  pay  of  Golitzine." 

Madame  Quero  endeavoured  to  utter  a  faltering 
negative,  but  Zouroff,  always  fond  of  brutal  methods, 
tightened  his  grasp  on  the  delicate  flesh. 

Under  the  hypnotic  influence  of  this  brutal  and 
commanding  man,  she  stammered  foiih  the  truth. 

"  You  have  guessed  right.  It  was  Corsini  who 
told  me,  in  a  very  brief  interview.  He  had  heard 
the  rumour  from  a  friend." 

Zouroff  smiled.  It  was  a  very  sinister  smile  at 
the  best.     The  lips  curled  up,  the  strong,  white,  even 


142  THE  INTKIGIJERS 

teeth  showed  themselves,  suggesting  the  fangs  of  a 
wolf. 

"  So  this  degenerate  Italian  is  daring  to  thrust 
himself  across  our  path,  is  he?  Well,  then!  the 
Italian  mountebank  must  disappear.^' 

Madame  Quero  rose  to  her  full  height  and  braved 
the  brutal  and  truculent  Prince. 

"  I  think  I  have  got  a  word  to  say  in  this :  If  he 
does  disappear,  I  shall  go  to  the  Emperor  and  tell 
him  the  whole  truth." 

"  You  have  fallen  in  love  with  this  young  man, 
eh  ?  "  inquired  the  Prince  in  a  jeering  voice. 

"  ISTo,  I  will  not  say  that.  And  besides,  he  is  in 
love  with  somebody  else.  But  understand  me,  if 
you  please  " —  she  spoke  with  her  old  imperiousness 
— "  I  will  not  have  a  hair  of  this  young  man's  head 
^  harmed.  He  is  young,  he  is  innocent ;  he  shall  not 
fall  a  victim  to  your  dastardly  schemes." 

Boris  regarded  her  with  his  cold,  hard  glance. 
"  Suppose  I  said  that,  in  that  case,  even  La  Belle 
Quero  herself  must  disappear.     What  then  ?  " 

Tears  came  into  the  beautiful  woman's  eyes. 
She  looked  at  him,  more  compassionate  than  angry. 

"  Oh,  Boris,  have  you  sunk  so  low,  have  you  let 
your  ambitions  overcome  all  the  softer  impulses  of 
your  nature  ?  Would  you  really  murder  me  for  fear 
I  should  tell,  and  frustrate  your  schemes  ?  " 

She  looked  very  beautiful  as  she  appealed  to  him. 
For  a  moment  the  old  love  for  her,  the  old  infatu- 
ation surged  up  in  his  heart.  He  clasped  her  to  his 
breast,  and  murmured  softly  the  words :  "  Why  are 
you  not  heart  and  soul  with  me,  as  you  used  to  be  ? " 


THE  INTEIGUERS  143 

She  disengaged  herself  gently  from  his  embrace; 
it  no  longer  thrilled  her.  "  You  are  no  longer  the 
same  to  me,  Boris,"  she  whispered,  with  the  usual 
subterfuge  of  the  woman.  "  You  have  had  other 
loves  besides  La  Belle  Quero." 

"  I  do  not  admit  that,  Inez,"  he  answered,  in  his 
rough,  hard  tones,  a  little  shaken  by  his  emotion. 
"  But  remember,  we  are  bound  together  by  solemn 
ties,  by  solemn  oaths,  to  the  same  cause.  Mark  my 
words,"  he  added,  with  a  sudden  access  of  savagery. 
"  If  you  play  me  false  in  that  respect,  expect  no 
mercy." 

"  If  I  play  you  false,  Boris,  I  expect  no  mercy ; 
I  shall  get  none.  I  know  the  manner  of  man  you 
are." 

"  Yes,  you  know  the  sort  of  man  I  am,  Inez.  Pur- 
sue your  little  flirtations,  if  you  will.  I  shall  not 
complain.  But  once  play  me  false  in  other  matters, 
and  your  doom  is  sealed." 

He  strode  out  of  the  room,  and  the  face  of  Ma- 
dame Quero  went  white  as  she  remembered  the 
threat.  The  Prince  loved  her  in  his  rough,  brutal 
way,  but  if  she  interfered  with  his  plans,  he  would 
brush  her  out  of  his  path  with  as  little  compunction 
as  he  would  kill  a  fly  that  annoyed  him  with  its  im- 
pertinent buzzing. 

And  then,  in  a  few  moments,  her  thoughts  went 
back  to  the  handsome  young  Italian,  Corsini.  She 
had,  in  an  unguarded  moment,  given  him  away. 
Zouroff's  slow,  but  unrelenting,  vengeance  would 
pursue  him.  The  Prince  had  said  that  Corsini  must 
disappear.     In  this   autocratic  country  people  dis- 


144  THE  INTRIGUERS 

appeared  every  day,  and  nobody  seemed  to  wonder. 
It  was  such  a  common  occurrence. 

!N^ext  day  Madame  Qiiero,  very  disturbed,  sought 
Corsini  at  his  private  office  at  the  Imperial  Opera. 
Her  object  was  to  gain  a  little  time  before  Zouroff 
could  put  his  evil  designs  into  execution. 

She  approached  him  with  her  most  winning  smile. 

"  Signor,  you  reproached  me  for  not  having  asked 

you  to  my  villa.     Will  you  allow  me  to  repair  the 

omission  ?     Will   you   sup   with   me,   tete-a-tete,   on 

Thursday  night  ? '' 

She  had  meant,  in  this  intimate  meeting,  to  give 
him  a  few  hints  as  to  his  personal  safety  without  too 
closely  inculpating  Zouroff  and  his  associates,  whom 
she  still  greatly  feared. 

l^ello  expressed  a  thousand  regrets.  After  his 
duties  at  the  Opera  were  over,  Prince  Zouroff  had 
requested  his  attendance  at  his  Palace,  as  Princess 
JSTada  had  wished  to  again  hear  his  rendering  of  the 
romance  which  had  now  become  celebrated. 

The  voice  of  the  prima  donna  grew  agitated.  She 
was  very  distrustful  of  Boris  and  his  ways. 

"  But,  Signor  Corsini,  why  go  there  when  you 
know  so  well  that  the  Prince  is  quite  indifferent  to 
music?  He  does  not  care  for  any  sort,  yours  or 
mine." 

Nello  darted  at  her  a  shrewd  glance.  "  I  do  not 
think  myself,  ^^ladame,  that  the  Prince  is  a  great 
connoisseur;  but  he  is  generally  in  his  box  when  you 


sms;." 


The  beautiful    Spanish   woman   blushed   ever   so 
slightly.     "  Ah,  Signor,  he  comes  because  I  am  the 


THE  INTEIGUERS  145 

fashion.  But  all  the  same,  I  wish  you  would  not 
go." 

Her  manner  was  very  insistent.  Nello  could  see 
that  she  was  greatly  agitated. 

"  Tell  me,  Madame.  You  have  some  reason  for 
not  wishing  me  to  go  ?  " 

Madame  Quero  hesitated.  She  dared  not  tell  the 
truth,  that  she  feared  there  was  some  sinister  design 
on  the  part  of  the  Prince.  Had  he  not  said  that 
Corsini  must  disappear?  Her  blood  ran  cold  at 
the  thought. 

She  relied  on  her  woman's  wiles.  "  Suppose," 
she  whispered  softly,  "  that  I  told  you  I  was  very 
jealous  of  the  Princess  Nada.  Would  that  keep  you 
away  ? " 

Nello  looked  at  her  steadily.  A  few  days  ago  her 
request  might  have  had  some  influence  on  him,  but 
now  he  knew  her  for  a  traitress.  She  was  only  seek- 
ing to  trap  him  for  her  own  ends.  He  was  proof 
against  her.     Golitzine  had  warned  him. 

"The  Princess  jSTada  is  an  old  friend  of  mine, 
Madame.  I  have  promised  to  play  that  little  ro- 
mance for  her  whenever  she  wishes  to  hear  it.  I 
cannot  break  my  promise." 

The  blood  of  the  Biscayan  peasant  surged  wildly 
in  her  veins.  "  You  are  a  fool,  Signor  Corsini ; 
you  do  not  know  your  real  friends,  I  assure  you." 

Corsini  assumed  his  most  diplomatic  manner. 
He  bowed  profoundly.  "  I  have  made  many  friends 
in  St.  Petersburg,  Madame,  but  I  shall  always 
remember  that  you  were  one  of  the  first  and 
best." 


146  THE  INTEIGUEES 

"  Always  excepting  Princess  ISTada,"  remarked  the 
prima  donna  spitefully. 

"  All,  Madame,  I  met  her  first  in  London ;  I  can- 
not tell  you  under  what  tragic  circumstances.  Yes, 
to  be  quite  frank,  the  Princess  has  a  little  niche  in 
my  memory  that  nobody  else  can  occupy.  You  will 
forgive  me  ?  " 

Madame  Quero  turned  away  from  him  scornfully, 
her  warm  Spanish  blood  all  aflame  at  the  mention  of 
her  rival. 

"  Go  then  to  your  beautiful  Princess,  with  her 
bloom  of  the  lilies  and  roses  on  her  cheeks,  and  your 
fate  be  on  your  own  head." 

Corsini,  in  spite  of  his  equable  temperament,  was 
a  little  disturbed  by  the  interview.  Madame  Quero 
had  been  very  insistent  that  he  should  not  go  to  the 
Zouroff  Palace.  What  was  there  behind  this  insist- 
ence? 

He  had  pressed  her  closely  as  to  her  reasons,  and 
she  had  led  him  to  understand  she  entertained  an 
undefined  jealousy  of  the  Princess  ISTada.  In  all 
probability  that  was  the  true  explanation.  Any- 
way, she  would  give  him  none  other. 

He  was  very  busy  during  the  next  day  or  two  with 
the  cares  of  management  —  the  directorship  of  the 
Imperial  Opera  was  no  light  task.  He  met  the 
singer  several  times,  but  she  still  appeared  to  nour- 
ish resentment. 

Well,  he  could  not  help  it.  Wild  horses  would  not 
have  kept  him  away  from  the  Zouroff  Palace,  from 
the  few  minutes'  glimpse  of  the  beautiful  young  Prin- 
cess.    The  Thursday  drew  near,  and  his  pulses  beat 


THE  INTEIGUERS  147 

with  pleasurable  anticipation.  If  Madame  Quero 
withdrew  her  friendship  from  him,  it  would  not 
break  his  heart;  and  if  she  was  the  traitress  that 
Golitzine  assumed,  her  friendship  was  not  worth 
having. 

As  for  the  woman  herself,  she  was  torn  with  con- 
flicting emotions.  At  one  moment  she  hated  him,  at 
another  she  wept  to  think  that  he  should  fall  a  vic- 
time  to  the  machinations  of  the  unscrupulous  and 
unrelenting  Prince.  And  on  the  Wednesday,  the 
day  before  the  reception  at  the  Zouroff  Palace,  her 
softer  feelings  conquered. 

She  had  seen  the  Prince  the  night  before,  and  he 
had  told  her  that  he  was  going  into  the  country  and 
would  not  return  to  St.  Petersburg  till  the  midday 
of  the  Thursday, 

She  drove  to  the  Zouroff  Palace  in  the  afternoon 
and  sent  up  her  card  to  the  Princess  j^ada.  On  it 
she  had  pencilled  — "  To  see  you  on  an  urgent  mat- 
ter." 

The  young  Princess's  maid,  Katerina,  who  was 
devoted  to  her  mistress,  brought  in  the  card. 

ISTada  read  it,  and  she  frowned.  She  was  not  at 
all  conventional  for  a  girl  of  her  rank  and  station, 
and  she  numbered  many  artists  amongst  her  friends. 
But  she  had  heard  of  the  reputation  of  La  Belle 
Quero.  Puraours  had  reached  her  of  the  peculiar 
relations  between  the  singer  and  her  brother,  the 
Prince.  Obviously,  she  was  not  the  sort  of  woman 
she  could  receive  in  a  private  capacity. 

"  Go  down  yourself,  Katerina,  to  this  person,  and 
be  perfectly  civil,"  she  enjoined  her  maid.     "  Ex- 


148  THE  INTEIGUERS 

plain  to  her  as  politely  as  possible  that  I  am  not  able 
to  see  any  visitors  to-day." 

The  young  woman  conveyed  the  cold,  decisive  mes- 
sage to  the  waiting  Madame  Quero.  A  dull,  red 
jflush  spread  over  the  singer's  face  as  she  recognised 
the  reasons  for. the  refusal  to  accord  her  an  inter- 
view. 

But  she  had  not  come  unprepared  for  such  a  re- 
buff. "  One  moment,  if  you  please,"  she  said,  draw- 
ing forth  a  letter  and  handing  it  to  the  maid.  "  Take 
this  to  your  young  mistress.  I  will  wait  till  you  re- 
turn. I  fancy  next  time  you  will  bring  me  a  dif- 
ferent answer." 

The  maid  bowed  and  went  back  to  the  Princess. 
]!^ada  tore  the  letter  open  angrily.  The  woman  was 
a  trifle  too  insolent  and  persistent.  Then  her  angry- 
mood  passed  as  she  mastered  the  brief  contents. 

"  I  regret  very  much  to  intrude  upon  you ;  I  can 
quite  guess  that  my  presence  is  not  welcome.  A 
great  danger  is  threatening  a  certain  gentleman, 
Signor  Corsini,  for  whom  I  believe  you  have  some 
friendship.  You  are  the  only  person  I  can  think  of 
at  the  moment  who  can  avert  that  danger,  especially 
as  it  is  threatened  by  a  member  of  your  own  family. 
If  you  still  persist  in  refusing  to  see  me,  please  seal 
up  this  letter  and  return  it  by  your  maid." 

There  was  no  longer  any  fear  of  refusal.  Corsini 
threatened  with  danger,  and  by  a  member  of  her  own 
family,  who  could  be  none  other  than  Boris ! 

"  Bring  the  lady  to  me  at  once,  Katerina,"  she 
commanded  the  wondering  maid. 

A  moment  later  the  two  faced  each  other,  the  Prin- 


THE  INTEIGUEKS  149 

ces3  standing  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  courteous 
but  distantly  polite,  to  receive  her  unwelcome  guest. 

They  looked  at  each  other  steadily,  with  dislike  in 
their  hearts,  the  aristocrat  of  pure  and  ancient  lin- 
eage, the  woman  who  had  played  barefoot  in  the 
gutter  as  a  child,  and  won  her  way  with  her  exquisite 
talent  to  fame  and  fortune. 

There  was  between  them,  at  the  start,  the  antago- 
nism of  class.  But  there  was  also  between  them  a  still 
more  subtle  antagonism,  recognised  by  each:  they 
had  a  mutual  tenderness  for  the  same  man. 


CHAPTER  XIV 

It  was  exceedingly  difficult  for  a  person  of  Nada's 
frank  and  open  temperament  to  resort  to  the  arts  of 
the  dissembler,  to  feign  a  cordiality  she  did  not  feel. 
Still,  she  managed  to  pull  herself  together  and,  to 
a  creditable  extent,  conceal  her  dislike  of  her  unwel- 
come visitor.  With  a  grave  courtesy  she  invited  the 
Spanish  woman  to  seat  herself. 

"  Your  note  has  distressed  me,  Madame,  for  more 
than  one  reason.  In  the  first  place  I  am  very  sorry 
to  hear  that  Signer  Corsini  is  menaced  by  a  great 
danger.  I  met  him  in  London ;  ours  was  the  first 
private  house  he  played  at  after  his  great  success  at 
the  Covent  Garden  concert.  I  have  a  great  esteem 
for  him  as  an  artist,  and  I  am  shocked  to  think  that, 
after  so  short  a  stay  in  my  own  country,  he  should  be 
the  victim  of  some  sinister  designs.  Secondly,  I  am 
the  more  disturbed  because  your  letter  tells  me  very 
plainly  in  what  quarter  these  designs  are  being  en- 
tertained." 

Madame  Quero  spoke  very  quietly.  The  Princess 
disliked  her,  of  that  she  was  assured,  and  she  re- 
turned the  dislike  with  compound  interest.  Still 
]^ada  was  doing  her  best  to  be  civil  and  polite.  It 
should  not  be  her  fault  if  the  interview  was  not  con- 
ducted with  perfect  discretion  on  both  sides. 

"  If  the  danger  had  not  been  very  great  and  also 

150 


THE  INTEIGUERS  151 

very  imminent,  Princess,  I  should  not  have  taken  the 
liberty  of  intruding  myself  upon  you.  We  move  in 
different  worlds,  it  is  true,  but  I  am  some  sort  of  a 
personage  in  my  own  sphere  and  not  fond  of  exposing 
myself  to  rebuffs  at  the  hand  of  a  waiting-maid." 

!N^ada  blushed  at  the  shrewd,  quick  thrust,  al- 
though the  words  were  spoken  without  the  least  heat. 

"  I  am  very  sorry  you  should  have  felt  offended," 
she  faltered.  "  But  of  course,  I  could  not  deliver 
the  message  myself." 

Madame  Quero  dismissed  the  subject  with  a  grace- 
ful wave  of  the  hand.  If  Nada  had  the  composure 
of  the  aristocrat,  she  had  the  self-possession  of  the 
woman  of  the  world.  She  could  skate  over  thin  ice 
as  delicately  as  anybody. 

"  I  have  every  reason  to  know  that  your  brother, 
Prince  Boris,  has  taken  a  violent  enmity  to  this 
young  musician." 

"  My  brother,  I  regret  to  say,  takes  violent  dis- 
likes to  many  people,  for  reasons  that  I  have  never 
been  able  to  fathom.  But  I  cannot  guess  any  motive 
for  enmity  against  Signor  Corsini.  In  what  possi- 
ble way  can  their  paths  cross  ?  " 

"  You  will,  of  course,  understand.  Princess,  that 
I  cannot,  in  every  instance,  speak  as  plainly  as  I 
could  wish.  You  may  have  heard,  it  is  hardly  pos- 
sible you  should  not,  that  for  some  few  years  past 
Prince  Zouroff  has  been  one  of  my  most  intimate 
friends." 

Nada  bowed  her  graceful  head,  while  a  faint  flush 
rose  to  the  fair  cheek.  Of  course  it  was  common 
rumour  in   St.   Petersburg  that  he  was  greatly  at- 


152  THE  INTRIGUERS 

tracted  by  the  handsome  singer  and  was  prepared  to 
marry  her,  if  her  husband  could  be  got  out  of  the 
way.  Such  an  alliance  would  not,  naturally,  rec- 
ommend itself  to  the  other  members  of  the  proud 
and  ancient  house  of  ZouroflF. 

"  It  would  certainly  seem  a  strange  thing  that 
their  paths  should  cross  in  any  way,"  was  Madame 
Quero's  answer.  "  And  here,  I  am  afraid,  I  dare 
not  be  as  explicit  as  I  wish.  You  must  forgive  me. 
Princess,  if  I  content  myself  with  hints  instead  of 
full  explanations.  I  can  only  just  tell  you  this :  Sig- 
ner Corsini  has  discovered  a  jealously  guarded  secret 
of  your  brother's.  Your  brother,  therefore,  regards 
him  as  a  dangerous  man,  to  be  got  out  of  his  way." 

ISTada's  face  went  pale  as  she  listened  to  these 
rather  vague  utterances.  Although  so  young,  with 
a  disposition  naturally  frank  and  trusting,  she  had 
a  very  quick  intelligence.  She  thought  she  could 
read  between  the  lines.  It  was  some  time  before  she 
spoke. 

"  My  brother  has  a  jealously  guarded  secret  which 
Signer  Corsini  has  discovered,"  she  repeated  slowly. 
"  If  he  revealed  that  secret,  it  would  mean  danger 
to  Boris  ?  " 

Madame  Quero  bowed.  "  At  present  his  knowl- 
edge is  not  very  great,  but  if  he  learnt  more,  it 
would  mean  the  greatest  possible  danger  to  your 
l)rother." 

There  was  no  mistaking  the  sinister  meaning  be- 
hind these  words.  The  young  girl  reflected  a  few 
moments.     ]^ot    once,    but    many    times,    some   un- 


THE  INTKIGUERS  153 

guarded  phrase  of  the  Prince,  dropped  in  one  of  his 
frequent  rages,  had  set  her  thinking. 

"  Boris  is  not,  then,  exactly  what  he  seems,  Ma- 
dame ?  " 

"  Far  from  it,  Princess,"  replied  the  singer,  speak- 
ing with  a  frankness  that  a  second  later  she  re- 
gretted. 

"  And  perhaps,  too.  Signer  Corsini  is  not  exactly 
what  he  seems  ? "  queried  Nada.  Intuition  was 
leading  her  very  near  the  truth. 

"  Of  that  I  cannot  speak  with  any  certainty. 
Your  brother  has  certain  suspicions  of  him,  but  I 
hafe  no  means  of  knowing  whether  they  are  well-  or 
ill-founded.  One  thing  is  certain.  Prince  Boris  goes 
in  fear  of  him  and  meditates  harm  to  him." 

"  You  are  sure  of  his  intentions  ?  "  asked  Nada. 

Madame  Quero  shrugged  her  shapely  shoulders. 
"Should  I  be  here,  if  I  were  not?" 

The  Princess  questioned  her  a  little  more  closely. 
"  You  will  not  tell  me  more  than  you  wish,  I  know, 
but  I  think  I  am  entitled  to  put  this  question.  How 
did  you  learn  his  intentions,  from  himself  or  a  third 
party  ?  " 

And  the  singer  answered  truthfully.  "  From  his 
own  lips." 

Nada  was  silent  for  some  seconds.  She  was  work- 
ing it  out  in  her  ovm  mind,  on  the  somewhat  scanty 
data  that  had  been  furnished  her. 

"  You  mean  that  the  Prince  intends  to  get  Sig- 
nor  Corsini  out  of  the  way  by  some  treacherous 
means  ? " 


154  THE  INTRIGUERS 

"  That  is  the  idea  that  is  formiug  in  his  mind, 
Princess." 

"  When  will  he  put  that  idea  into  action,  do  you 
think  ?  "  was  Nada's  next  question. 

"  Corsini  plays  here  at  the  Prince's  request  to- 
morrow evening  —  is  that  not  so  ?  " 

Yes,  it  was  true.  She  had  written  the  invitation 
herself  at  Zouroff's  request. 

"  Well,  the  Prince  is  a  man  who  acts  very  rapidly 
when  he  has  once  made  up  his  mind.  It  is  my  be- 
lief that  whatever  project  he  has  formed  will  be  put 
into  execution  to-morrow  night." 

IsTada  put  her  hand  to  her  brow.  "  It  is  horrible, 
Madame,  unthinkable,  that  a  brother  of  mine  should 
stoop  so  low.  Why  should  he  have  a  secret  so  guilty, 
that  he  cannot  afford  to  have  it  dragged  forth  into  the 
light?" 

Madame  Quero  did  not  answer  the  question  di- 
rectly. "  I  fear,  Princess,  your  brother  is  not  a 
man  easily  to  be  read  even  by  those  who  have  lived 
in  the  same  house  with  him." 

"  What  is  it  you  suggest  that  I  should  do  ?  "  asked 
the  Princess  after  a  long  pause.  "  Shall  I  meet  him 
at  the  entrance  and  entreat  him  to  go  away  at  once, 
on  some  pretext  or  another?  And  what  might  fol- 
low if  I  took  such  a  strange  step  ?  I  cannot  bring 
myself  to  confess  to  him  that  I  suspect  my  own 
brother  of  base  designs  against  him." 

It  was  a  puzzling  question,  which  Madame  Quero 
could  not  answer  at  once.  For  some  moments  the 
two  women,  their  mutual  hostility  suspended  for  the 


THE  INTEIGUEES  155 

time  being,  put  their  wits  together.     Suddenly  an 
idea  occurred  to  the  singer. 

"  That  maid  of  yours,  who  interviewed  me  on  your 
behalf.     Can  you  trust  her  ?  " 

"  She  is  devoted  to  me,"  was  the  Princess's  an- 
swer. 

"  Your  brother,  I  happen  to  know,  has  one  or  two 
confidential  servants  in  his  employ." 

"  Yes,"  said  Nada,  looking  at  her  visitor  steadily. 
It  was  evident  that  if  the  Prince  concealed  some 
things  from  j\Iadame  Quero,  there  were  many  things 
that  he  told  her.  The  girl  had  a  very  shrewd  suspi- 
cion that  the  guilty  secret  which  Corsini  had  discov- 
ered was  also  known  to  the  beautiful  singer  herself. 

"  It  is  just  possible  that  if  your  maid  instituted 
a  few  discreet  inquiries  in  certain  quarters,  she  might 
learn  something." 

"  Can  you  suggest  any  particular  quarter  in  which 
she  could  put  them  ?  "  asked  the  Princess.  It  was 
evident  that  the  Spanish  woman  knew  a  great  deal 
about  the  Zouroff  household  —  a  great  deal  more 
than  she  did  herself. 

"  Peter,  his  valet,  is,  I  know,  absolutely  in  his 
master's  confidence." 

"  That  is  fortunate,"  remarked  Nada ;  "  because 
I  happen  to  know  that  Katerina  and  he  are  very 
great  friends;  in  fact,  I  believe  lovers." 

She  rose,  touched  the  bell  and  commanded  the 
attendance  of  her  maid.  For  a  long  time  the  two 
women,  mistress  and  servant,  talked  together  in  Pus- 
sian.     Madame  Quero,  who  only  knew  two  languages, 


156  THE  IjS^TRIGUEES 

her  own  and  French,  could  not,  of  course,  follow 
them. 

The  Princess  explained  the  result  of  the  interview. 
"  I  have  enlisted  Katerina's  sympathies,  she  is  go- 
ing to  find  out  if  Peter  knows  anything." 

Madame  Quero  rose.  "  Whatever  it  is,  I  am  sure 
he  will  have  a  hand  in  it,  although  I  don't  expect  he 
will  take  an  active  part.  Well,  Princess,  I  must 
leave  it  to  you  to  take  what  steps  may  occur  to  you." 

Nada  put  to  her  the  shrewd  question.  "  Is  it 
impossible  for  you  to  take  any  steps  yourself,  Ma- 
dame ?  " 

A  shamed  expression  came  into  the  singer's 
beautiful  eyes.  "  Alas,  Princess,  I  fear  I  must 
admit  it  is.  If  the  Prince  could  trace  anything  to 
me  directly,  his  vengeance  would  follow  me  very 
swiftly." 

Nada  shuddered.  She  had  long  ago  ceased  to  en- 
tertain any  illusions  as  to  her  brother.  She  knew  he 
was  hard,  tyrannical,  brutal,  and  pitiless.  But  this 
conversation  with  the  foreign  woman  had  thrown  a 
new  and  sinister  light  upon  his  character.  There 
was  in  him,  in  addition  to  these  disagreeable  quali- 
ties, a  strong  criminal  taint. 

He  did  not  intend  to  spare  Corsini,  and  from  what 
she  had  just  heard,  he  would  not,  if  necessity  arose, 
spare  the  woman  to  whom  he  professed  attachment, 
but  would  punish  her  ruthlessly  for  daring  to  thwart 
his  plans.  And  the  poor  young  Princess  shuddered 
again  as  the  thought  crossed  her  that  he  would  not 
be  likely  to  spare  his  own  sister,  if  she  offended  him 
in  the  same  way. 


THE  INTKIGUERS  157 

It  was  not  till  the  middle  of  the  next  day  that  Kat- 
erina  had  charmed  out  of  Peter  certain  information 
which  confirmed  her  worst  fears. 

Briefly,  the  information  amounted  to  this.  The 
Prince  had  sent  one  of  his  trusted  servants  into  the 
country  to  order  relays  of  horses.  A  travelling  car- 
riage was  to  be  waiting  at  midnight  close  to  the 
Zouroff  Palace.  But  Peter  either  did  not  know,  or 
would  not  tell,  who  was  to  be  the  occupant  or  the 
persons  in  attendance  on  the  carriage. 

One  little  important  detail  he  had  dropped.  The 
carriage  was  to  make  its  first  halt  at  Pavlovsk,  the 
first  stage  of  the  journey,  on  the  Moscow  road. 

There  was  no  longer  any  doubt  in  ISTada's  mind 
as  to  the  Prince's  intentions.  Corsini  was  to  be  en- 
trapped on  leaving  the  Palace  and  thrust  into  the 
carriage ;  in  all  probability,  drugged  and  bound.  Of 
his  ultimate  fate  she  shuddered  to  think. 

She  knew  the  Chief  of  Police,  General  Beilski, 
well.  He  was  an  old  friend  of  the  family,  also  one 
of  the  Emperor's  most  trusted  adherents.  While 
devoted  to  her  mother  and  herself,  he  had  never 
shown  himself  much  attached  to  the  Prince. 

l^othing  easier  than  for  her  to  pay  a  private  visit 
to  the  General  at  his  oflSce,  or  invite  him  to  the 
Palace,  and  request  his  assistance  in  thwarting  her 
brother's  foul  designs.  It  was  the  course  which 
Madame  Quero  could  have  taken  had  she  so  wished, 
in  the  first  instance. 

The  same  reason  held  back  both  women.  Such  a 
step  must  have  brought  about  the  immediate  ruin 
of  Zouroff,  with  its  consequent  degradation  for  his 


158  THE  mXEIGUERS 

relatives.  The  General  was  a  man  who  would  put 
duty  and  patriotism  before  every  other  consideration. 
He  would  not  consent  to  any  paltering  with  justice, 
he  would  drive  no  bargain.  He  would  not  save  Cor- 
sini  at  the  cost  of  letting  the  Prince  go  free  and  un- 
punished. 

It  was  a  terrible  situation  for  so  young  a  girl, 
thrown  upon  her  own  resources.  True,  she  could 
have  taken  counsel  with  her  mother,  but  she  shrank 
from  exposing  her  brother's  villainy  to  such  a  close 
relation.  She  would  keep  the  shameful  secret 
locked  in  her  own  breast  so  long  as  it  was  possible. 

And  then  came  a  ray  of  light.  She  wrote  a  let- 
ter in  a  feigned  hand  to  the  General,  which  ran  thus : 

"  A  travelling  carriage  will  set  out  to-night  from 
St.  Petersburg  at  any  time  after  midnight,  and  will 
halt  at  Pavlovsk,  on  the  road  to  Moscow.  Let  the 
carriage  be  examined,  as  the  writer  of  this  letter  has 
reason  to  believe  there  is  a  plot  afoot  to  deport  a  cer- 
tain person  well-known  in  artistic  circles." 

This  she  handed  to  Katerina,  whom  the  General 
had  never  seen,  wuth  instructions  to  take  it  to  his 
office  and  hand  it  for  delivery  to  some  responsible 
person.  She  was  to  disguise  herself  as  well  as  she 
could,  and  not  linger  a  moment  after  she  had  deliv- 
ered the  letter.  It  was  next  to  impossible  that 
Beilski  should  ever  discover  where  that  letter  came 
from,  but  she  was  certain  he  would  act  upon  it  at  once. 

What  would  follow  from  her  action  she  could  not 
foresee;  but  she  had  done  the  best,  according  to  her 
lights,  to  save  the  young  man  who  had  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  cross  her  brother's  path. 


THE  mTHIGUEES  159 

Zouroff,  just  returned  from  his  journey  into  the 
country,  entered  her  charming  little  boudoir  half  an 
hour  after  she  had  despatched  Katerina  with  the 
warning  note. 

He  seemed  in  a  good  mood  to-day.  With  bitter- 
ness at  her  heart,  she  guessed  the  reason.  He  had 
laid  his  plans  so  well  for  this  evening  that  he  did 
not  anticipate  any  likelihood  of  their  being  dis- 
turbed. 

He  greeted  her  with  a  sort  of  rough  geniality. 
"  Well,  little  I^ada,  you  seem  very  thoughtful. 
Wondering  what  particularly  charming  costume  you 
will  wear  to-night  ?  " 

With  difficulty  she  forced  herself  to  meet  his  gaze, 
to  banish  from  her  own  the  loathing  that  was  in  her 
heart.  She  tried  to  speak  lightly,  so  that  he  should 
suspect  nothing  from  her  voice  or  manner. 

"  JSTot  quite  accurate,  Boris.  'Ko,  I  have  decided 
on  the  costume.  I  was  really  wondering  what  jewels 
I  should  select." 

The  Prince  seemed  to  accept  her  explanation  read- 
ily. "  Well,  I  am  certain  you  will  enjoy  yourself. 
Your  great  favourite,  Corsini,  is  sure  to  play  that 
little  romance  which  has  so  captivated  you.  I  really 
asked  him  here  to  give  you  pleasure." 

Was  it  fancy,  or  did  she  really  catch  the  ghost  of 
a  sneering  smile  on  the  hard,  handsome  face,  as  he 
turned  to  leave  the  room  ? 

"  Base,  treacherous  hypocrite !  "  she  murmured 
when  she  was  alone.  "  Why  have  I  been  cursed  with 
such  a  brother,  my  poor  mother  with  such  a  son  ?  " 


CHAPTEE  XY 

More  than  one  of  her  admirers  noted  that  La 
Belle  Quero  was  not  in  her  best  form  to-night.  Her 
acting  lacked  its  usual  spontaneity,  and  several  times 
she  sang  flat. 

Those  who  thought  themselves  in  the  know,  put 
down  the  inequality  of  her  performance  to  some  re- 
cent tiff  with  Prince  Zouroff.  But  this  was  only  a 
surmise,  not  a  fact.  Zouroff,  of  course,  was  in  her 
thoughts,  but  only  in  connection  with  Corsini. 

It  was  the  danger  threatening  the  handsome  young 
Italian  that  caused  her  to  sing  flat  and  provoke  those 
unflattering  comments  amongst  her  usually  loyal  au- 
dience. 

Again  in  the  early  part  of  the  evening  she  had 
sought  him  in  his  private  room,  and  for  the  second 
time  endeavoured  to  dissuade  him  from  going  to  the 
Zouroff  Palace.  He  was  convinced  in  his  own  mind 
that  it  was  unworthy  jealousy  of  the  Princess  Nada 
which  had  prompted  her  action. 

Perhaps,  a  short  time  ago,  he  would  have  felt  a 
certain  amount  of  pity  for  an  affection  that  was  so 
thoroughly  misplaced.  But  Golitzine's  plain  hints 
had  destroved  his  former  feelings  of  friendship.  He 
could  only  regard  her  interference  now  with  resent- 
ment. 

He  looked  at  her  very  steadily.     "  Give  me  some 

160 


THE  INTEIGUERS  161 

intelligent  reason  for  breaking  my  promise,  Madame, 
and  I  will  go  so  far  as  to  say  I  will  consider  it." 

She  turned  pale  and  bit  her  lip  in  manifest  agita- 
tion. What  he  asked  her  was  precisely  what  she 
could  not  do.  After  that  none  too  veiled  threat  of 
Zouroff's,  that  if  she  failed  him  he  would  show  her 
no  mercy,  she  dare  not  betray  him  by  telling  the 
truth. 

But  she  was  a  woman  of  considerable  resource  and 
she  thought  she  might  get  round  him  by  appealing  to 
his  pride. 

"  I  do  not  know  that  I  can  advance  any  very  suf- 
ficient reason,  except  that  we  have  been  good  friends, 
and  it  annoys  me  to  find  you  refusing  to  place  a 
proper  value  on  yourself." 

"  How  am  T  making  myself  cheap  by  playing  at 
the  Zouroff  Palace,  Madame?  Like  yourself,  I  am 
an  artist  and  follow  my  art ;  certainly  because  I  love 
it,  but  also  because  it  procures  me  a  substantial  re- 
ward. If  I  play  for  the  Countess  Golitzine  and 
others,  I  can  play  without  loss  of  dignity  for  the 
Princess  ZouroflF." 

She  saw  her  opportunity,  and  took  advantage  of  it 
swiftly.  "  I  am  not  speaking  of  women,  my  good 
friend.  It  is  the  Prince  himself  who  is  in  my  mind. 
You  have  told  me  half  a  dozen  times  that  this  man 
treats  you  with  the  greatest  hauteur,  hardly  deigns 
to  return  vour  salutation.  He  is,  after  all,  the  mas- 
ter  of  the  house.  It  seems  to  me  that  if  you  re- 
spected yourself,  as  I  should  wish  you  to  do.  you 
would  refuse  to  give  him  the  chance  of  insulting 
von." 


162  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Corsini  could  easily  have  retorted  that  La  Belle 
Qiiero,  in  her  professional  capacity,  attended  many 
houses  where  the  women  showed  her  as  scant  cour- 
tesy as  the  autocratic  Prince  displayed  towards  him; 
but  he  was  of  too  chivalrous  a  nature  to  hurt  the 
pride  of  a  woman. 

Anyway,  she  did  not  give  him  the  real  reason, 
w'hich  he  still  believed  to  be  that  unworthy  jealousy 
of  the  charming  young  Princess. 

He  shrugged  his  shoulders  in  real,  or  assumed,  in- 
difference. "  I  must  not  sav  too  much  about  this 
Zouroff,  because  we  all  know  he  is  a  great  friend  of 
yours.  He  certainly  might  take  a  lesson  in  man- 
ners, but  I  don't  know  that  his  want  of  them  affects 
me  very  greatly." 

"  Still,  his  discourtesy  hurts  you,  or  you  would 
not  have  dwelt  upon  it  so  often  as  you  have  done," 
retorted  Madame,  woman-like  following  out  her 
point. 

Corsini  rose ;  he  was  rather  tired  of  the  argument. 

"  If  it  is  so,  Madame,  I  shall  not  pay  him  the  com- 
pliment of  staying  away.  I  would  not  give  him  the 
triumph  of  thinking  that  he  was  capable  of  hurting 
me." 

She  saw  it  was  useless.  "  It  must  be  as  you  wish, 
Signer ;  "  there  was  a  note  of  sadness  in  her  voice  as 
she  turned  away.  She  left  the  room,  murmuring  to 
herself,  "  I  have  tried  my  best.  It  is  the  sister  who 
draws  him,  and  she  must  wish  as  fervently  as  I  do 
that  he  would  stay  away." 

It  was  early  in  the  evening  when  she  had  sought 
this  interview,  and  as  the  hours  sped  on,  bringing 


THE  INTRIGUERS  J^3 

Corsini  nearer  to  the  time  of  his  appointment,  her 
agitation  increased.  If  she  could  only  know  if  the 
Princess  had  thought  of  anything,  if  she  had  taken 
any  steps  to  prevent  the  tragedy  which  she  felt  sure 
was  impending. 

With  a  woman  of  her  nervous  and  excitable  tem- 
perament, to  express  a  wish  was  to  carry  it  swiftly 
into  execution.  The  Opera  finished  early  that  night. 
She  drove  home  at  once  to  her  villa,  summoned  her 
maid,  and  bade  her  change  her  costume. 

A  few  moments  later  she  came  back  to  the  waiting 
carriage,  attired  in  clothes  befitting  a  woman  of  the 
poorer  classes,  and  drove  to  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  Zouroff  Palace.  She  walked  on  foot  to  the 
servants'  entrance  and  demanded  to  see  the  Princess's 
maid,  Katerina,  on  very  urgent  business. 

The  girl  came  to  the  door,  wondering  who  her  vis- 
itor could  be,  what  was  the  cause  of  this  imperative 
summons. 

The  prima  donna  laid  her  finger  on  her  lips  to 
impress  caution  and  secrecy. 

"  We  must  speak  very  low,  if  you  please.  I  am 
Madame  Quero,  the  person  you  showed  yesterday  into 
your  young  mistress's  room.  Can  you  convey  a  mes- 
sage from  me  to  her  now  ?  " 

Katerina  looked  at  the  strange  visitor  who  had  dis- 
guised herself  so  successfully.  Had  she  met  her  in 
the  street,  she  would  have  passed  her  by  without 
knowing  her.  But  now  that  Madame  Qucro  had 
recalled  herself  to  her  recollection,  she  at  once  recog- 
nised the  popular  singer,  in  spite  of  her  humble  at- 
tire. 


164  THE  INTRIGUERS 

"  If  you  don't  mind  waiting  a  few  moments, 
Madame,  I  think  I  can  manage  it.  But  I  am  afraid 
I  shall  have  to  ask  you  to  wait  outside.  Am  1  to  take 
a  letter  ?  " 

"  I  will  wait  outside,  certainly.  Ko,  no  letter, 
it  might  excite  suspicion.  Just  take  this  message  to 
your  mistress:  Has  she  been  able  to  take  any  steps 
with  regard  to  the  matter  we  spoke  of  yesterday? 
A  few  words,  yes  or  no,  will  do  for  an  answer." 

The  door  was  closed,  and  La  Belle  Quero,  one  of 
the  idols  of  St.  Petersburg,  waited  in  the  darkness  for 
a  message  to  be  delivered  by  a  lady's  maid.  For  a 
moment,  as  she  stood  there,  she  laughed  a  little  hys- 
terically at  the  situation. 

The  Zuroff  Palace  had  never  opened  its  doors  to 
her,  even  in  a  professional  capacity,  for  the  Princess 
was  a  grande  dame,  and  very  rigid  in  her  social  views. 
But  there  were  other  great  houses,  presided  over  by 
hostesses  with  a  more  elastic  code  for  people  of  gen- 
ius who  had  entertained  her  as  a  guest. 

It  was,  to  say  the  least  of  it,  a  little  bizarre  that 
she  should  be  waiting  outside  the  servants'  quarters, 
dressed  in  working-woman's  attire,  because  she  did 
not  want  one  lover  to  injure  another  man  who  might 
have  been  a  lover  had  he  chosen. 

The  minutes  sped  by ;  it  seemed  an  eternity  to  the 
anxious  woman  waiting  there.  Then  at  last  the 
door  was  opened  cautiously,  and  Katerina  spoke  in  a 
low  voice. 

"  A  thousand  pardons  for  keeping  you  waiting  so 
long,  Madame,  but  it  was  very  difficult  to  get  hold  of 


THE  INTRIGUERS  ^65 

tho  young  Princess.     There  is  a  big  reception  on 
to-night." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  interrupted  the  singer  eagerly. 
This  obliging  girl,  like  most  of  her  class,  was  apt  to 
be  garrulous.     "  Has  she  sent  an  answer  ?  " 

Katerina  looked  a  little  offended.  Her  good- 
humoured  young  mistress  never  interrupted  her,  even 
in  her  most  prolix  moments.     She  spoke  stiffly. 

"  Yes,  Madame,  I  was  coming  to  that  in  a  second. 
She  has  taken  certain  steps  which  she  devoutly  hopes 
will  insure  the  result  you  both  desire,  but  of  course 
she  cannot  be  certain."  Suddenly  the  maid's  tone 
changed,  and  she  dropped  a  very  profound  curtsey. 
"  It  is  very  kind  of  you,  Madame,  but  it  was  really 
not  necessary.  I  am  only  too  pleased  to  have  been 
of  use." 

The  change  in  tone  was  due  to  the  fact  that 
Madame  Quero  had  slipped  into  her  hand  a  substan- 
tial simi  of  money,  immediately  afterwards  disap- 
pearing into  the  darkness. 

Although  not  happy  nor  assured,  she  felt  relieved 
to  know  that  something  had  been  done  to  thwart  the 
Prince's  sinister  designs. 

She  walked  swiftly  to  her  carriage,  and  on  her 
way  passed  Corsini,  who  was  going  in  the  direction 
of  the  Palace  with  his  beloved  violin-case  in  his  hand. 
It  was  a  peculiarity  of  the  Italian  that  he  never  drove 
where  he  could  walk.  She  shuddered  as  she  won- 
dered if  he  was  going  to  his  doom,  or  if  the  Princess's 
fervent  hopes  would  be  realised. 

For  a  moment  a  wild  impulse  urged  her  to  turn 


166  THE  I^^TRIGUERS 

back  and  run  after  him,  to  blurt  out  the  truth  and 
implore  his  silence.  But  the  instinct  of  self-preser- 
vation prevailed  and  the  impulse  was  combated. 

Zouroff's  dark  threat  rang  in  her  ears.  And  if 
the  Prince's  suspicions  were  correct,  Corsini  was  in 
the  pay  of  Golitzine.  If  that  were  true,  she  would 
entreat  his  silence  in  vain.  Even  gratitude  for  his 
escape  would  not  blind  him  to  his  obvious  duty. 

Corsini  ascended  the  staircase,  and  the  first  person 
he  met  on  entering  the  handsome  gilded  music-salon 
was  the  master  of  the  house.  To  the  Italian's  in- 
tense surprise  the  Prince  held  out  his  hand  and 
greeted  him  with  an  apparent  show  of  cordiality. 

"  Ah,  good-evening,  Signer.  You  are  a  little  late 
—  is  it  not  so  ?  Many  of  your  admirers  have  been 
asking  after  you  and  fearing  that  you  were  not  able 
to  come. 

Nello,  a  man  of  a  most  frank  and  trusting  dispo- 
sition, was  almost  overcome  by  this  condescension. 
Had  he  misjudged  the  man  after  all  ?  A  great  Rus- 
sian nobleman  of  ancient  lineage  might  be  disposed 
to  look  down  upon  meaner  persons  who  could  boast 
of  neither  wealth  nor  origin.  At  any  rate,  he  w^as 
behaving  well  in  his  own  house,  was  not  reminding 
him  of  the  difference  between  their  stations. 

"  I  am  afraid  I  am  a  little  late,  Prince.  Put  I 
will  make  amends.  If  they  desire  an  extra  encore 
they  shall  have  it."  Thus  Nello,  a  little  elated  by 
Zouroff's  subtle  suggestion  that  he  was  a  person  of 
great  importance  in  the  world  of  art,  and  his  audi- 
ence was  waiting  impatiently  for  his  arrival. 

He  played  very  beautifully  that  night.     The  en- 


TEE  INTRIGUERS  167 

thusiasm  of  his  listeners  was  so  great  that  he  had  to 
grant  not  one,  but  three  encores.  At  last  he  left  the 
platform. 

The  Princess  iNTada  met  him  as  he  descended  the 
few  marble  steps. 

"  You  have  surpassed  yourself  to-night,  Signor. 
There  are  many  waiting  to  pay  you  compliments. 
But  will  you  first  come  and  have  a  brief  chat  with 
me?" 

Was  there  anything  he  could  more  ardently  desire  ? 
To  gaze  for  a  few  moments  into  those  beautiful  eyes, 
to  listen  to  those  soft,  kind  tones  —  were  not  a  few 
moments  spent  like  this  worth  much  more  than  all 
the  applause  he  had  received  ? 

She  led  him  to  a  small  divan  in  the  spacious  salon, 
that  was  fortunately  not  occupied.  She  sat  at  one 
end,  he  at  the  other;  but  they  were  not  very  distant. 

He  was  very  agitated.  His  close  proximity  to  this 
beautiful  young  woman,  the  product  of  centuries  of 
high  breeding,  the  delight  of  her  presence,  the  per- 
fume that  stole  to  him  from  her  abundant  hair,  the 
hundred  and  one  subtle  allurements  that  a  daughter 
of  the  classes  possessed  for  a  son  of  the  people,  in- 
toxicated him.  She  was  indeed  the  woman  of  his 
dreams,  a  star  set  so  high  in  the  firmament  that  he 
could  only  gaze  respectfully  at  its  light. 

She  brought  him  to  earth  with  the  simple  ques- 
tion :  "  You  must  be  very  tired  after  your  fatigues 
of  the  day  and  night;  it  is  some  time  past  twelve 
now.  How  do  you  propose  to  return  to  your  hotel  ? 
I  suppose  you  have  your  carriage  waiting  to  take 
vou  back  ?  " 


168  THE  INTRIGUERS 

She  had  put  the  question  in  her  subtle,  woman's 
way.  She  knew  it  was  a  fad  of  Corsini's  that  he 
would  never  ride  or  drive  where  he  could  walk. 
When  he  was  rallied  upon  it  by  his  few  intimate 
friends,  he  always  gave  the  same  explanation  that  he 
proffered  now. 

"  It  is  an  eccentricity  of  mine,  Princess,  that  I 
always  walk  wherever  I  can.     Shall  I  tell  you  why  ?  " 

Nada  looked  at  him  kindly.  "  Yes,  tell  me  why. 
I  cannot  tell  you  whether  it  is  an  eccentricity  until 
I  know  the  reason.  Personally,  I  am  a  very  lazy 
person,  and  never  walk  when  I  can  ride." 

Corsini  leaned  towards  her.  He  could  inhale  the 
fragrance  of  her  hair,  the  stronger  perfume  that  came 
from  the  roses  she  wore  in  her  corsage. 

"  Princess,  may  I  reveal  to  you  some  of  my  inmost 
cherished  aspirations  ?  "  His  eyes  were  glowing,  he 
spoke  with  unusual  vehemence. 

"  I  should  be  honoured  to  receive  your  confi- 
dences," replied  the  Princess  softly. 

"  Ah,  then,  since  you  are  so  indulgent,  I  will  tell 
you.  My  career  up  to  a  few  months  ago  was  an 
obscure  one.  Music  is  in  my  blood,  as  it  is  in  yours. 
Am  I  not  right  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  Princess,  in  an  even  softer 
voice  than  before.  "  Music  is  in  mv  blood,  toD. 
Everything  fades  into  insignificance  beside  those 
lovely  rapturous  sounds,  such  as  you  and  a  few  other 
great  artists  can  evoke  and  render  in  your  various 
media :  through  the  voice,  the  violin,  the  piano  — 
perhaps  the  weakest,  the  least  convincing  of  all." 

She  was  very  lovely,  very  alluring,  thought  Corsini. 


THE  INTKIGUEES  169 

She  had  considerable  mentality,  even  great  spiritual- 
ity. Alone  with  his  violin  and  her,  he  could  so 
charm  her  that  perchance  she  might  cast  off  her  high 
estate,  the  estate  of  the  Princess,  and  venture  forth 
with  him  into  the  world  of  exquisite  music  and  un- 
known dreams.  But  the  time  had  not  come  for  that. 
She  had  only  extended  a  kind  and  gentle  friendship. 
He  could  not,  at  the  moment,  ask  for  more.  It 
would  be  presumption  on  his  part. 

"  I  trui^t  I  shall  not  weary  you,"  he  said,  with  a 
smile  of  apology.  "  As  a  violinist,  I  have  met  with 
some  success ;  as  the  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera, 
I  am  not  quite  a  failure.  But  these  successes,  for 
what  they  are  worth,  do  not  put  limits  on  my  ambi- 
tion. I  want  to  be  something  greater  than  either  — 
the  successful  composer." 

The  Princess  sighed.  "  Ah,  that  is  my  ambition, 
too.  I  have  tried  every  instrument,  and  failed.  I 
have  composed  heaps  of  things,  but  there  is  no  orig- 
inality in  them.  I  play  Chopin  and  try  to  imitate 
him,  Wagner  with  the  same  result.  I  have  an  artis- 
tic instinct,  Signor  Corsini,  but  no  creative  ability. 
I  must  be  a  listener  all  my  life,  envying  the  people 
who  render  what  I  would  give  all  my  fortune  to  ex- 
press." 

Corsini  thought  of  his  interview  with  Salmoros, 
when  that  sedate  and  experienced  financier  had  ex- 
pressed the  inmost  desires  of  his  soul,  that  he  would 
give  a  hundred  thousand  pounds  out  of  his  princely 
fortune  to  acquire  half  of  the  Italian's  executive  art. 

Corsini  looked  at  her,  his  artist  soul  beaming  in 
his  expressive  eyes. 


170  THE  lis^TKIGUEIiS 

"  It  is  one  of  the  tragedies  of  life,  Princess.  You, 
like  my  good  friend  Salmoros,  desire  to  be  an  execu- 
tant, and  your  fingers  refuse  to  obey  the  impulses  of 
your  soul.  You  want  to  be  a  composer,  and  you 
cannot  express  your  ideas.  You  do  not  create,  you 
only  imitate." 

"  Alas,  yes,"  answered  the  Princess  mournfully. 

Corsini  half  rose  from  his  seat  in  his  agitation. 
"  With  me.  Princess,  it  is  different.  The  executive 
part  comes  easily  to  me;  I  do  not  worry  about  that; 
it  is,  of  course,  a  gift.  But,  as  I  told  you,  I  long  to 
be  a  composer.  That  is  the  reason  why  I  always  walk 
whenever  the  distance  is  not  too  long." 

"  Ah,  yes,  we  have  wandered  far  from  the  original 
subject,"  answered  the  Princess,  realising  that  Cor- 
sini had  got  upon  the  great  theme  of  self,  and  was  no 
longer  keen  to  listen  to  the  recital  of  her  small 
aspirations. 

"  Playing  in  these  gilded  saloons,  shut  up  in  my 
office  at  the  Opera,  my  imaginative  past  is  dull  and 
dead.  When  I  walk  through  the  silent  streets  watch- 
ing the  tide  of  life  as  it  flows  by,  the  nobleman  rolling 
by  in  his  carriage,  the  beggar  cringing  for  alms,  great 
thoughts  come  to  me.  Overhead  at  night,  the  stars, 
full  of  mystery  and  wonder,  this  petty  world  beneath  I 
Then,  Princess,  my  imagination  awakes.  I  feel  in 
me  some  of  that  divine  fire  which  must  have  in- 
formed the  great  Beethoven  when  he  composed  '  The 
Moonlight  Sonata,'  some  of  that  inspiration  which 
moved  Chopin,  Wagner,  and  the  other  great  masters." 

He  waved  his  arms  with  a  dramatic  gesture. 
"  That  is  why  I  walk  rather  than  ride.     Speaking  as 


THE  INTEIGUEES  171 

a  composer,  when  I  am  confined  in  a  close  space,  I 
am  dead  artistically.  When  I  walk  and  look  round 
on  life,  I  find  inspiration." 

He  was  very  glowing,  very  impassioned.  Nada 
felt  her  pulses  thrill  as  she  listened  to  him.  But 
perhaps,  because  she  was  not  the  full  and  complete 
artist  that  Corsini  was,  she  always  leaned  to  the  prac- 
tical side. 

"  Oh,  please  do  not  think  I  am  not  capable  of  un- 
derstanding you,"  she  said.  "  If  I  were  the  artist 
you  are,  I  should  break  away  from  the  narrow  con- 
fines of  this  Palace  and  seek  inspiration,  like  you, 
from  the  moon  and  stars,  even  in  the  silent  streets." 
She  paused  a  moment,  and  then  added,  with  her 
full  knowledge  of  what  was  lying  in  wait  for  him, 
"  But  all  the  same,  Signor,  in  spite  of  the  inspiration 
you  may  derive,  I  wish  you  would  not  walk  home  to- 
night. Give  the  moon,  the  stars,  the  silent  streets 
the  go-by  for  once.  Wait  for  your  inspiration  till 
to-morrow." 

He  was  flattered  by  that  direct  appeal  to  him  from 
such  a  beautiful  girl,  but  of  course,  he  had  no  idea 
of  the  reason  that  had  prompted  it. 

"  But,  Princess,  why  put  an  embargo  on  this  ex- 
quisite night  ?  As  I  walk  along,  great  ideas  will 
come  to  me.  I  may  be  able  to  think  of  something 
worthy  of  Chopin,  Schumann,  even  of  the  great  Wag- 
ner himself." 

She  leaned  forward  to  him  a  little  from  her  side 
of  the  divan,  and  her  flower-like  face  was  very  close 
to  his.  He  could  catch  the  subtle  perfume  of  her 
hair,  the  scent  of  the  roses  at  her  breast. 


172  THE  INTKIGUEES 

"  It  is  just  a  little  whim  of  mine,  Signer  Corsini. 
You  work  verj  bard,  you  are  devoured  by  your  artis- 
tic ambitions  wbicb  nourish  the  soul,  but  consume  the 
body  to  ashes.  Do  not  incur  unnecessary  fatigue. 
You  have  your  carriage  waiting  ?  " 

"  ]^o,  Princess,  I  have  never  any  carriage  waiting. 
I  nearly  always  walk  to  my  hotel  —  the  longer  the 
distance,  the  better,  because  I  have  a  longer  time  for 
inspiration." 

"  I  know,  I  know,"  answered  ISTada  quietly.  "  I 
fully  appreciate  all  this,  but  one  may  sometimes 
overdo  it.  I  do  not  think  you  are  looking  very  well 
to-night,  Signer.  You  have  put  too  great  a  strain 
upon  yourself  lately.  You  say  you  have  no  carriage 
waiting.  Permit  me  to  supply  you  with  one.  The 
courtyard  is  choked  up  with  vehicles.  You  have  only 
to  say  the  word  and  my  maid  will  bring  you  one  to 
the  side  door  of  the  Palace.  You  can  get  in  there 
and  be  driven  home  at  once,  without  any  tedious 
delay." 

A  delightful  thought  crossed  his  brain.  Was  it 
possible  that  the  Princess  had  appreciated  bis  respect- 
ful homage,  his  silent  devotion  ?  Or  was  this  solici- 
tude for  his  welfare  merely  the  expression  of  a 
womanly  compassion  for  the  man  outside  her  world, 
but  claiming  the  common  kinship  of  art  ? 

His  voice  broke  as  he  declined  her  offer.  "  Ten 
thousand  thanks,  but  I  would  not  put  you  to  such 
trouble.  You  have  so  many  guests  to  see  to.  I  have 
already  taken  up  too  much  of  your  time.  I  will 
wtilk  home  as  usual  and  seek  my  inspiration  under  the 
stars." 


THE  INTEIGUERS  173 

Her  troubled  gaze  sought  his.  If  he  would  only 
prove  amenable,  she  could  still  save  him  —  at  any 
rate  for  a  time  —  from  her  ruthless  brother,  with  the 
aid  of  her  faithful  maid,  Katerina,  out  of  the  reach 
of  those  scoundrels  who  were  waiting  to  convey  him 
—  she  hoped  into  the  arms  of  General  Beilski's  police. 

But  Corsini  was  not  to  be  saved  to-night,  although 
two  women  had  done  their  best  for  him.  He  took  the 
hand  that  the  Princess  offered  him. 

"  You  have  been  so  very  kind.  I  shall  always 
cherish  you  in  a  warm  corner  of  my  heart,  for  were 
you  not  one  of  my  earliest  friends?  At  that  time, 
I  had  not  many  friends,  Heaven  knows." 

"  I  shall  always  be  your  friend,  Signor  Corsini. 
I  only  wish  you  would  allow  me  to  order  the  carriage 
to  take  you  home."  The  concluding  words  almost 
sounded  like  an  entreaty. 

But  Corsini  would  pay  no  attention.  He  was  re- 
solved on  walking  home  to  seek  inspiration  from  the 
clear  skies  and  the  silent  streets. 

At  the  top  of  the  great  staircase  the  Prince  was 
standing,  to  all  appearances  cordiality  itself.  But, 
from  a  far  corner  of  the  music-salon,  he  had  been 
watching  with  angry  eyes  the  conversation  between 
his  sister  and  Corsini. 

But  he  could  afford  to  be  indifferent;  he  could  af- 
ford to  greet  the  young  Italian  with  a  smile.  He  had 
laid  his  plans  cunningly. 

Zouroff  accompanied  him  to  the  door,  guarded  by 
a  big  hall-porter.  In  a  corner  of  the  hall  lounged  a 
small  dapper  man,  Peter,  his  valet,  the  lover  of 
Katcrina. 


17i  THE  INTRlGUEliS 

"  Good-night,  Signor.  Have  you  no  carriage  wait- 
ing ?  Ah,  no,  I  understand  it  is  a  habit  of  yours  to 
walk.  Good!  Exercise  is  a  fine  tonic.  My  secre- 
tary will  send  you  a  cheque  to-morrow  for  your  serv- 
ices.    Again,  good-night !  " 

The  door  closed  on  the  retreating  Corsini.  Zouroff 
turned  swiftly  to  the  small,  dapper  man,  and  whis- 
pered in  his  ear. 

"  After  him,  Peter.  Come  back  and  tell  me  that 
they  have  done  their  work." 

The  hall-porter  opened  the  door  at  a  sign  from  his 
imperious  master,  and  the  valet  went  out  with  a  slow, 
stealthy  tread. 

He  followed  in  the  wake  of  Corsini,  who  marched 
along  gaily,  his  violin-case  swinging  from  his  hand, 
his  thoughts  full  of  the  Princess  jSTada,  who  had  been 
so  sweet  to  him,  so  gracious. 

He  hummed  one  of  the  gayest  of  the  many  gay  airs 
from  "  II  Barbiere  "  as  he  walked  along.  It  was  one 
of  his  favourite  operas,  one  in  which  La  Belle  Quero 
was  inimitable. 

He  was  in  a  very  happy  frame  of  mind  to-night  as 
he  walked  through  the  silent  streets.  He  even 
thought  tenderly  of  La  Belle  Quero,  and  went  to  the 
length  of  forgiving  her  for  what  he  had  once  con- 
sidered her  groundless  jealousy  of  the  Princess. 

In  the  midst  of  these  happy  thoughts,  four  black 
shadows  loomed  up  against  him,  four  men  surrounded 
him. 

What  a  fool  he  had  been  not  to  take  the  Princess's 
advice  and  drive  home !  St.  Petersburg,  like  every 
other  populous  city,  was  full  of  thieves. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  175 

Blindly  he  struck  out  with  his  disengaged  hand. 
Shrilly  he  called  out  for  help. 

One  of  the  burly  men  who  had  surrounded  him 
threw  a  handkerchief  over  his  face.  In  a  few  sec- 
onds his  stniggles  had  ceased. 

His  almost  inanimate  form  was  conveyed  to  the 
waiting  carriage,  standing  in  a  side  street  not  far 
from  the  Zouroff  Palace.  It  was  bundled  inside,  two 
of  the  men  mounted  the  box,  the  others  sat  inside,  and 
the  horses  set  off  at  a  fast  trot  in  the  direction  of  the 
Moscow  road. 

The  valet,  Peter,  strolled  back  home.  His  master 
was  lounging  about  in  the  vestibule  to  await  the  news. 
Peter  whispered  them  in  his  ear. 

Zouroff  smiled  a  slow  smile  of  gratified  malice. 

"  The  bird  is  trapped,"  he  exulted  as  he  ascended 
the  staircase,  to  mingle  once  more  with  his  guests. 


CHAPTER  XVI 

Aftee  having  delivered  lier  letter  in  the  way  re- 
corded in  a  previous  chapter,  Katerina  had  sped  away 
with  the  swiftness  of  the  proverbial  arrow.  She  was 
well  on  her  way  home  before  it  reached  the  hands  of 
General  Beilski,  who  was  closeted  with  an  official  of 
high  importance  and  could  not  be  disturbed  till  the 
interview  was  finished. 

The  Chief  of  Police  was,  above  all  things,  a  man  of 
action.  There  was  nothing  in  the  letter  itself  to  give 
the  least  clue  as  to  the  writer,  but  it  was  evidently 
genuine.  He  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  woman 
who  had  sent  it  was  imwillingly  mixed  up  in  some 
plot  against  which  her  conscience  revolted. 

He  immediately  called  in  one  of  his  subordinates 
to  make  arrangements  for  the  immediate  despatch  of 
a  body  of  mounted  police  to  Pavlovsk,  where  they 
would  lie  in  wait  for  the  arriving  carriage. 

The  man  who  had  taken  the  letter  from  the  some- 
what frightened  maid  was  called  in  and  questioned, 
but  his  evidence  was  of  no  value.  His  recollections 
of  the  appearance  of  the  young  woman  were  very 
hazy.  She  was  young,  slim,  and  rather  good-looking, 
but  he  had  taken  so  little  notice  of  her  that  he  ad- 
mitted that  he  would  not  be  sure  of  recognising  her 
if  he  met  her  again.     There  were  other  callers  at  the 

time  and  his  attention  had  been  distracted. 

176 


THE  li^TRIGUERS  177 

The  man  was  dismissed,  and  the  General  and  his 
lieutenant  closely  scrutinised  the  letter  for  the  second 
time.  All  that  they  could  do  was  to  agree  upon  two 
points.  The  handwriting  was  evidently  a  feigned 
one,  and  also  that  of  a  person  of  education. 

"  There  is  one  peculiar  thing  about  it ;  our  inform- 
ant wishes  to  save  the  person  threatened,"  remarked 
the  Chief ;  "  but  she  evidently  wishes  to  involve  as 
little  as  possible  the  perpetrators.  Otherwise  she 
would  have  told  us  where  the  carriage  was  going  to 
start  from  for  Pavlovsk,  so  as  to  save  us  the  trouble 
of  going  all  that  way.  Still,  when  we  stop  the  car- 
riage, we  shall  be  able  to  get  something  out  of  the 
scoundrels  who  are  in  charge  of  it." 

"  Unless  they  are  too  staunch  or  too  well  paid  to 
give  away  their  employer,"  observed  the  subordinate, 
with  a  shrug  of  his  shoulders.  "  Many  of  these  crimi- 
nals, and  none  but  criminals  would  engage  in  such  a 
job,  are  very  loyal." 

"  In  the  good  old  days  we  would  soon  have  made 
them  find  their  tongues,"  said  the  General  with  a 
grim  smile. 

That  night  Boilski  dined  alone  with  Golitzine  and 
his  wife.  After  dinner  was  over,  the  two  men  ad- 
journed to  the  Count's  study  and  sat  late  into  the 
night,  discussing  various  important  matters. 

When  they  were  about  to  separate,  the  General 
drew  from  his  pocket  the  anonymous  letter,  and 
handed  it  to  his  host. 

"  Read  that,  Count,  although  I  don't  suppose  you 
will  be  able  to  make  more  out  of  it  than  I.  It  was 
left  to-day  by  a  mysterious  young  woman  who  bolted 


178  THE  INTRIGUERS 

as  soon  as  she  had  given  it  into  the  hands  of  the  por- 
ter. He  took  very  little  notice  of  her  and  doubts  if 
he  would  recognise  her  again." 

The  Count  read  the  letter  slowly,  and  meditated 
for  a  few  seconds.  "  Strange,  very  strange,"  he  said 
at  length.  "  A  person  of  some  importance  in  the 
artistic  world !  " 

"  Does  that  give  you  any  clue  ?  "  inquired  Beilski. 
"  Of  course  you  know  a  good  many  things  that  I 
don't,  and  you  also  mix  in  more  worlds  than  I  do. 
Is  there  anybody  you  can  think  of,  or  are  acquainted 
with,  whose  removal  might  be  useful  to  some  person 
or  persons  ?  " 

It  was  some  time  before  a  sudden  flash  of  inspira- 
tion came  to  Golitzine.  When  it  did,  he  spoke 
slowly. 

"  At  present,  mind,  it  is  only  a  conjecture.  But  I 
can  think  of  a  man  who  would  answer  to  the  descrip- 
tion —  Corsini,  the  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera." 

The  General  elevated  his  eyebrows.  "  From  all  I 
have  heard  of  him  —  I  have  never  met  him  —  a  most 
quiet,  unassuming  fellow.  How  could  he  give  of- 
fence to  anybody  ?  " 

"  I  must  let  you  into  one  of  my  secrets,  Beilski. 
This  young  man  is  acting  for  me  in  a  certain  matter. 
I  have  given  him  some  information  which,  according 
to  my  instructions,  he  has  divulged  to  somebody  else, 
a  woman." 

"  Is  there  any  objection  to  telling  me  the  name  of 
the  woman  ?  " 

"  As  I  have  gone  so  far,  I  may  as  well  go  a  little 
bit  farther,"  was  the  Count's  answer.     "  But,  at  the 


THE  INTRIGUERS  179 

moment,  you  must  remember  it  is  only  a  conjecture. 
The  woman  whom  I  suspect  of  having  sent  that  note 
is  La  Belle  Quero." 

"  The  woman  who  gives  supper  parties  to  men 
whom  we  strongly  suspect,  but  regarding  whom  we 
have,  up  to  the  present,  no  actual  proof,"  commented 
Beilski. 

"  Precisely."  Tho  Count  looked  at  his  watch. 
"  That  carriage  has  started  with  its  freight  some  time 
ago.  I  thinlc  we  can  soon  solve  the  problem  of 
whether  Corsini  is  the  occupant  or  not." 

"  Your  theory  is,  then,  either  that  this  Madame 
Quero  has  more  conscience  than  her  associates,  or  is 
in  love  with  the  young  man  and  has  made  up  her 
mind  to  save  him  ?  " 

Golitzine  nodded  his  head.  "  If  my  suspicions  are 
wrong,  Corsini  is  at  one  of  two  places,  either  at  his 
hotel  or  at  tho  Zouroff  concert.  He  told  me  yester- 
day he  was  going  there  tonight  to  play.  We  will 
send  round  a  guarded  note  to  each,  only  to  be  deliv- 
ered into  his  own  hands." 

This  was  done,  and  the  two  men  waited  for  the 
result.  The  man  despatched  to  the  Palace  returned 
first.  He  had  inquired  for  Signer  Corsini  and  was 
told  that  he  had  left  a  long  time  ago. 

The  other  messenger  arrived  a  few  seconds  later. 
He  had  seen  the  manager  of  the  hotel.  Corsini  had 
not  come  back,  a  most  unusual  thing,  since  for  a  man 
in  his  profession  he  kept  early  hours. 

"  The  inference  seems  pretty  clear,"  observed  the 
General.  "  If  he  had  intended  to  stay  at  the  house 
of  some  friends  he  would  have  told  the  manager. 


180  THE  INTRIGUEES 

Still,  he  may  have  gone  on  to  some  other  party,  al- 
though I  doubt  it.  Well,  if  Corsini  is  in  that  car- 
riage, and  it  seems  most  probable,  we  shall  soon  have 
him  back  in  St.  Petersburg." 

"  And  when  we  get  him  back  we  must  have  him 
closely  guarded,"  said  Golitzine;  "at  any  rate  until 
we  have  discovered  the  perpetrators  of  this  outrage." 

"  That  may  prove  an  easy  matter,  or  one  of  great 
difficulty,"  was  Beilski's  comment.  "  Madame  Quero 
herself  is,  of  course,  no  use  to  us.  She  would  never 
admit  that  she  wrote  that  letter.  Do  you  happen  to 
know  her  handwriting  ?  " 

"  Yes ;  I  have  had  half  a  dozen  letters  from  her  on 
professional  matters.  The  handwriting  bears  not 
the  slightest  resemblance  to  this.  But,  of  course,  she 
would  be  too  shrewd  to  write  it  herself,  even  in  a 
feigned  hand.  She  dictated  it  to  some  female  ac- 
complice." 

"  By  the  way,"  added  the  Count  as  they  separated 
for  the  night,  "  they  will  bring  back  the  occupant  of 
the  carriage,  who  I  think  we  may  safely  presume  to 
be  Corsini,  to  your  own  quarters,  of  course  ?  " 

"  Of  course,"  assented  the  General. 

**  Well,  bring  him  on  to  me  while  his  impresFions 
are  red-hot,  you  understand?  We  want  to  bring  it 
home  to  the  real  instigators." 

While  these  two  high  functionaries  were  discussing 
matters,  the  travelling  carriage,  with  the  senseless 
young  man  inside,  was  proceeding  on  the  Moscow  road 
at  a  fast  pace. 

One  of  the  two  ruffians  produced  a  stout  piece  of 


THE  INTKIGUEES  181 

cord  and  proceeded  to  twist  it  round  the  arms  and  legs 
of  the  helpless  man. 

"  He  doesn't  seem  capable  of  showing  much  fight," 
he  said  to  his  companion  with  an  evil  grin,  "  but  one 
never  knows.  A  liver-hearted  chicken  would  fight  for 
life  and  liberty.     Best  to  make  sure." 

He  bound  him  securely.  The  other  man  handled 
the  violin-case  which  had  dropped  from  Corsini's 
hand  when  so  suddenly  assailed.  His  eyes  betrayed 
a  covetous  gleam. 

"  This  is  worth  something,  I  expect,  but  we  dare 
not  handle  it." 

"  More  than  our  lives  are  worth,"  replied  the  other 
ruffian,  in  an  equally  regretful  tone.  "  There  will 
be  a  hue  and  cry  in  St.  Petersburg  tomorrow  when  it 
is  known  that  the  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera  has 
disappeared.  We  must  all  lie  low.  Any  attempt  to 
realise  on  that  violin  would  give  us  away  at  once. 
Besides,  we  are  being  very  handsomely  paid." 

"  That  is  true,"  grunted  his  companion  in  villainy, 
as  he  sank  back  on  his  seat  beside  the  unconscious 
man.  "  We  don't  ask  too  many  questions,  but  we 
can  pretty  shrewdly  guess  who  is  working  this  job. 
Peter  is  a  wary  bird  and  doesn't  let  out  much,  but  we 
know  who  is  his  master." 

The  carriage  sped  on  through  the  gathering  night 
till  it  reached  Pavlovsk.  Here  there  had  been  or- 
dered a  relay  of  horses,  which  was  awaiting  them  at 
a  small  posting-house. 

Corsini  was  still  wrapt  in  a  profoimd  slumber. 
Once  he  had  sho^vn  signs  of  consciousness,  and  one 
of  the  two  miscreants  had  given  him  another  dose  of 


182  THE  INTRIGUERS 

the  powerful  narcotic.     It  saved  trouble,  to  keep  him 
in  that  condition  till  they  reached  their  destination. 

It  had  been  a  cold  drive.  The  two  inen  who  had 
guarded  the  prisoner  stepped  outside  and  stamped 
their  feet.  The  other  two,  who  were  more  chilled, 
dismounted  from  the  box. 

The  leader  of  the  party  peered  at  the  unconscious 
figure.  "  He  is  still  in  the  land  of  dreams,  my  dear 
friends,"  he  said.  "  Well,  while  he  is  sleeping  and 
we  are  changing  horses,  we  will  get  a  warm  drink." 

The  four  men  tramped  into  the  bar  of  the  small 
inn,  where  they  comforted  themselves  with  the  re- 
freshment they  desired.  They  had  no  wish  to  delay 
their  departure,  but  it  would  take  a  few  minutes  to 
change  the  tired  horses,  they  might  as  well  enjoy 
themselves  in  the  interval.  They  were  members  of 
the  criminal  class  whom  Peter,  the  valet,  had  em- 
ployed in  his  master's  interests,  but  they  were  very 
game  fellows.  They  would  never  round  on  their  old 
friend  Peter. 

Suddenly  in  the  midst  of  their  revels,  for  the  one 
original  drink  had  extended  itself  to  three  or  four,  a 
decrepit  old  ostler  shambled  in  with  a  white  and 
scared  face.  He  was  an  aged  man,  toothless,  and 
with  a  voice  tliat  scarcely  rose  above  a  hoarse  whisper. 

"  Every  man  who  wants  to  save  himself  had  better 
mn  as  fast  as  he  can,"  he  croaked,  with  a  meaning 
glance  at  the  four  men  assembled  in  the  small  par- 
lour. "  The  place  is  full  of  police.  They  have  sur- 
rounded the  carriage.  They  will  be  inside  in  a  mo- 
ment." 

The  two  younger  men  of  the  party  took  the  hint 


THE  IXTRIGUERS  183 

at  once,  escaped  through  a  side  door  and  bolted  some- 
where away  in  the  darkness  of  the  night.  The  other 
two,  staggered  by  the  unexpected  com-se  of  events, 
had  not  wit  or  agility  enough  to  save  themselves.  In 
a  second  they  were  seized  and  handcuffed  by  the 
agents  of  the  law. 

Corsini's  inanimate  form  was  carried  in.  General 
Beilski  had  taken  the  precaution  to  send  a  doctor 
along  with  the  police.  He  had  accurately  giiessed 
that  those  who  wanted  to  "  deport  a  certain  person," 
would  take  the  precaution  of  drugging  him  first  and 
keeping  him  under  narcotics  during  the  journey. 

So  heavily  had  the  unfortunate  young  man  been 
drugged,  that  it  was  some  time  before  the  doctor 
could  bring  him  to  a  waking  state.  At  last  he  opened 
his  dazed  eyes  and  gazed  wonderingly  round  at  the 
narrow  little  room  in  which  he  had  been  laid. 

"  Where  am  I  ?  "  he  ejaculated  slowly.  His  senses 
were  not  yet  well  ordered.  He  had  hazy  recollections 
of  the  Zouroff  Palace,  of  a  conversation  with  the 
Princess  ISTada,  a  confession  to  her  of  his  ambition  to 
be  a  great  composer  as  well  as  a  great  executant,  of  a 
walk  through  the  silent  streets,  the  sudden  appearance 
of  some  men.     Then  a  blank. 

The  doctor  bent  over  him  and  spoke  in  a  soothing 
voice.  In  spite  of  the  ashen  and  livid  face,  he  recog- 
nised him  at  once.  The  doctor  came  from  St.  Peters- 
burg in  the  company  of  the  police,  and  he  had  seen  the 
portrait  of  the  new  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera  in 
several  newspapers.  Here  was  some  subtle  mystery 
to  which  he  had  not  the  key. 

"  You  are  amongst  friends.  Signer  Corsini,     I  am 


184  THE  INTRIGUERS 

going  to  give  you  another  injection,  and  after  that  you 
will  have  a  little  light  food  before  we  take  you  back 
to  St.  Petersburg." 

Corsini's  tired  eves  wandered  round  the  room.  He 
saw  the  kind,  compassionate  face  of  the  doctor  bend- 
ing over  the  sofa  on  which  he  had  been  laid.  He  saw 
also  three  men  in  police  uniform  and  a  tall,  bearded 
man  who  was  evidently  the  leader  of  the  party.  Then 
his  eyes  closed  again  and  he  relapsed  into  insensi- 
bility. 

The  doctor  swore  under  his  breath  and  turned  to 
the  tall,  bearded  man. 

"  They  have  nearly  done  for  him  with  their  in- 
fernal doping,  but  in  an  hour  from  now  I  shall  have 
him  in  trim  to  take  back  to  the  General.  Have  you 
got  all  those  scoundrels  ?  " 

The  tall,  bearded  man  shook  his  head  with  a  melan- 
choly air.  "  Alas !  only  two  of  them,  doctor.  The 
other  two  escaped,  warned,  no  doubt,  by  some  ruflfian 
in  this  inn.  Still,  I  have  got  two  and  I  will  do  my 
best  to  make  them  speak  before  I  have  done  with 
them." 


CHAPTER  XVII 

CoKsmi,  pale  and  exhausted  from  his  terrible  ex- 
periences, sat  in  Golitzine's  study.  General  Beilski 
was  there  also. 

"  Now,  Signor,  we  want  to  get  at  the  bottom  of 
this."  It  was  the  Count  who  was  speaking.  Beilski 
was  a  devoted  adherent  of  the  Czar,  and  had  been 
promoted  to  his  high  post  through  the  Imperial  fa- 
vour, but  he  was  not  a  man  of  very  considerable  men- 
tality, and  the  astute  secretary  had,  privately,  a  very 
poor  opinion  of  him. 

Corsini  struggled  to  collect  his  wandering  thoughts. 

"  It  seems  all  like  a  verv  bad  and  confused  dream, 
your  Excellency.  I  remember  playing  at  the  Zouroff 
Palace.  I  had  a  short  conversation  with  the  Princess 
Nada.  I  left  early;  the  Prince  accompanied  me  to 
the  door.  I  remember  distinctly  the  hall-porter  and 
an  obscure  sort  of  person  lounging  in  the  doorway. 
I  left  and  walked  along  in  the  direction  of  my  hotel. 
Suddenly  I  was  surrounded  by  four  men  —  footpads, 
as  I  surmised.  They  seized  me  and  drugged  me., 
The  rest  is  a  blank.  I  woke  up  in  a  little  bedroom  in 
an  obscure  inn,  with  a  kind  doctor  bending  over  me. 
Then,  there  are  sleeping  and  waking  intervals,  and  I 
jSnd  myself  here  in  your  Excellency's  house." 

"  Can  vou  carrv  vour  mind  a  little  farther  back, 

Signor  Corsini  ?     You  recognise  that  you  were  kid- 

185 


186  THE  INTEIGUEES 

napped  bj  some  persons  wlio  desired  your  disappear- 


ance." 


"  I  understand  that  perfectly,  Count.  Let  me  go 
back  a  little.  There  are  certain  suspicious  circum- 
stances that  recur  to  me." 

Beilski  and  the  Count  exchanged  significant 
glances.  Golitzine  motioned  the  young  man  to  pro- 
ceed. 

"  I  was  engaged  to  play  at  the  Zouroff  Palace  last 
night.  I  had  already  acquainted  your  Excellency 
with  that  fact." 

The  Count  nodded  a  little  impatiently.  He  was 
anxious  to  get  at  the  facts. 

"  A  very  singular  thought  has  occurred  to  me,  gen- 
tlemen. Madame  Quero  was  very  insistent  that  I 
should  not  play  at  the  Zouroff  Palace.  On  two  occa- 
sions she  endeavoured  strongly  to  dissuade  me,  to 
make  me  break  my  appointment." 

The  other  two  men  exchanged  an  even  more  sig- 
nificant glance.     They  were  getting  close  to  the  truth. 

ISTello  had  paused.  He  seemed  desirous  to  say 
more,  but  something  kept  him  back.  Golitzine  no- 
ticed his  hesitation. 

"  Come,  Sig-nor  Corsini,  out  with  it.  You  have  not 
yet  told  us  all  you  surmise  or  suspect.  We  know 
about  La  Belle  Quero.  There  is  something  else  you 
can  tell  us  if  you  choose." 

Corsini  was  never  a  very  good  dissembler.  He  was 
as  wax  in  the  hands  of  these  experienced  men  of  the 
world. 

"  A  singular  thing,  gentlemen,  after  thinking  over 
all  those  things,  is  this.     Perhaps  you  know  that  it  is 


THE  INTRIGUEKS  187 

a  peculiarity  of  mine  to  always  walk  to  and  from  my 
engagements." 

"  It  is  a  peculiarity  of  yours  that  has  been  already 
commented  on,"  said  Golitzine,  who  knew  everything 
about  everybody.     "  Proceed,  Sig-nor." 

"  It  is  just  a  thing  that  has  struck  me  as  a  little 
peculiar,  taken  in  conjunction  with  the  whole  cir- 
cumstances. Madame  Quero,  whom  I  know  you  sus- 
pect, was  very  insistent  that  I  should  not  go  to  the 
Zouroff  Palace,  without  assigning  any  definite  or 
plausible  reason." 

"  We  have  already  understood  that,"  interrupted 
Beilski,  rubbing  his  hands.  "  Perhaps  we  may  now 
come  to  something  that  throws  more  light  on  the 
affair." 

Corsini  proceeded.  "  I  had  a  brief  conversation 
with  the  Princess  JSTada."  He  blushed  slightly  as  he 
continued.  "  She  was  pleased  to  express  some  solici- 
tude for  my  welfare,  my  health.  She  thought  I  was 
not  looking  well,  that  I  had  been  working  too  hard. 
She  asked  if  I  had  a  carriage  waiting  for  me.  I 
answered  in  the  negative,  telling  her  that  I  always 
preferred  to  walk  home.  She  offered  to  procure  a 
conveyance  for  me,  and  added  that  it  could  be  drawn 
up  at  a  private  entrance  to  the  Palace,  as  there  was  a 
great  crush  in  the  main  entrance.  Gentlemen,  I  have 
told  you  all  the  facts,  it  is  for  you  to  draw  your  infer- 
ences. It  is  pretty  evident  that  both  Madame  Quero 
and  the  Princess  had  an  inkling,  perhaps  actual 
knowledge,  of  the  danger  that  was  threatening  me, 
and  dared  not  say  more  than  they  did." 

Golitzine  rose  and  drew  the  General  into  a  comer. 


188  THE  INTEIGUEES 

"  The  thing  is  clear  enough.  The  two  women  have 
been  in  league  to  save  this  young  man.  La  Quero 
has  split  upon  Zouroff,  because  she  is  in  love  with  Cor- 
sini,  and  has  enlisted  the  sympathies  of  the  Princess, 
probably  in  love  with  Corsini  herself.  You  see  it, 
General  ?  " 

Beilski  had  not  the  agile  intelligence  of  the  Count, 
but  when  it  was  so  clearly  put  before  him,  he  saw  it. 

"  The  young  woman  who  brought  the  note  is  the 
maid  of  one  of  them,"  he  said  tersely.  "  Well,  my 
men  shall  bring  both  the  maids  before  me  to-morrow 
and  I  will  wring  the  truth  out  of  one  of  them.  In  the 
meantime,  how  shall  we  proceed  with  Corsini  ?  " 

"  Take  him  back  to  his  hotel.  Eudge  any  story 
you  like  to  the  manager  —  been  taken  ill  in  my  house, 
or  yours,  it  does  not  matter  which.  Let  him  go  about 
his  usual  duties  and  let  him  be  safely  guarded  till  we 
bring  this  home  to  the  proper  quarters.  How  about 
those  men  accompanying  the  carriage  ?  " 

"  Alas !  I  have  only  bagged  a  couple,"  answered 
the  General  regretfully.  "  The  others  escaped 
through  the  want  of  vigilance  on  the  part  of  my 


men." 


"  And  what  have  the  two  you  captured  got  to  say 
for  themselves  ?  " 

"  Just  nothing.  Their  lips  are  sealed.  They  will 
take  their  own  punishment,  but  they  will  not  give 
away  their  employer.  If  we  had  lived  in  the  old 
days  we  could  have  made  them  speak." 

Golitzine  crossed  over  to  the  young  Italian. 

"  Signor  Corsini,  I  cannot  say  how  deeply  I  am 
grieved  that  you  should  have  been  subjected  to  this 


THE  INTRIGUERS  189 

outrage.  Rest  assured  it  shall  be  tracked  home  to 
the  proper  quarters,  and  you  shall  be  amply  avenged. 
I  have  asked  General  Beilski  to  put  a  secure  guard 
around  you  whenever  you  venture  abroad.  You  need 
fear  no  repetition.  Salmoros  would  never  forgive  me 
if  you  came  to  harm." 

Corsini  was  taken  back  to  his  hotel,  wondering  over 
all  the  things  that  had  happened  to  him.  A  tale 
was  fudged  up  to  the  manager  that  he  had  been  at- 
tacked with  sudden  indisposition  at  the  house  of 
Count  Golitzine,  and  compelled  to  remain  there. 
Beilski  took  good  care  that  he  was  unobtrusively 
guarded  by  members  of  the  secret  police. 

The  next  thing  was  to  get  hold  of  the  two  maids. 
The  General's  satellites  secured  the  one  in  the  service 
of  Madame  Quero,  and  brought  her  along. 

Beilski  interrogated  her  himself,  but  the  cross-ex- 
amination of  five  minutes  convinced  him  that  she  was 
not  the  woman  who  had  brought  the  note.  And  the 
porter  was  equally  certain  on  this  point.  She  was  a 
person  of  different  build. 

He  dismissed  her  with  a  caution,  as  he  handed  her 
some  coins. 

"  I  would  prefer  that  you  kept  your  mouth  shut 
about  this  visit.  Still,  it  is  very  probable  you  will 
blab  about  it  to  your  mistress." 

"  Not  after  your  generosity,  your  Excellency,"  an- 
swered the  maid  gratefully,  with  a  smirk. 

The  General  grunted.  "  That  is  as  it  may  be.  I 
don't  know  that  I  trust  you  farther  than  that  door. 
But  if  you  should  feel  disposed  to  take  your  mistress 
into  your  confidence,  you  can  tell  her  this  —  that  we 


190  THE  INTEIGUERS 

have  our  eje  upon  her  and  know  more  than   she 
thinks." 

Half   an  hour  later  the  terrified   Katerina   was 
brought  into  his  presence.     She  had  been  taken  in- 
charge  a  few  yards  outside  the  ZourofF  Palace,  whence 
she  was  proceeding  on  a  shopping  errand  for  her 
young  mistress. 

The  General,  with  his  experienced  eye,  read  at  once 
in  her  demeanour  the  signs  of  great  perturbation. 
She  was  no  hardened  criminal,  only  a  weak,  trembling 
girl.  He  had  rough  and  ready  methods  for  such  as 
these. 

"  Speak  the  truth,  girl,  and  fear  not ;  the  strong 
arm  of  the  law  shall  protect  you,"  he  thundered  in 
his  loud,  vigorous  accents.  "  You  are  the  young 
woman  who  brought  me  a  note  the  other  day  from  the 
Princess  jSTada.     My  hall-porter  has  recognised  you." 

This,  of  course,  was  a  flight  of  the  gallant  General's 
imagination.  The  hall-porter  had  distinctly  said  that 
he  would  not  be  certain  of  recognising  her ;  but  it  was 
enough  to  scare  the  shrinking  Katerina. 

She  sank  upon  her  knees,  trembling  in  every  limb. 
"  It  is  true,  your  Excellency.  Are  you  going  to  kill 
me,  or  send  me  to  Siberia  ?  " 

The  General  smiled  grimly.  "  N'either,  my  excel- 
lent young  woman,  as  you  have  confessed  without  any 
unnecessary  trouble.  Give  my  compliments  to  your 
young  mistress,  and  tell  her  I  will  give  myself  the 
pleasure  of  waiting  upon  her  this  afternoon  on  a  little 
private  matter.  You  can  tell  her  that  I  have  interro- 
gated you,  and  you  have  confessed.  You  can  also 
mention  that  the  police,  presided  over  by  General 


THE  IXTRIGUEES  191 

Beilski,  lias  a  long  arm,  and  a  very  wide  espionage ; 
also  that  we  find  out  things  pretty  quickly,  however 
carefully  they  are  concealed." 

Poor  Katerina  hurried  away,  her  brain  in  a  whirl. 
As  she  scurried  home,  she  reproached  herself  that, 
under  the  awe-inspiring  presence  of  the  formidable 
General,  she  had  given  her  young  mistress  away. 
But,  after  all,  she  was  not  to  blame.  The  Princess 
ought  not  to  have  sent  her  on  such  an  errand. 

JN^ada  had  been  wondering  at  her  absence.  The 
shopping  errand  on  which  she  had  been  despatched 
should  not  have  occupied  her  very  long. 

Poor  Katerina  had  to  confess  to  her  interview  with 
the  General.  jSTada  spoke  no  word  of  blame ;  it  was 
her  own  fault  that  she  had  chosen  so  weak  an  instru- 
ment. And  she  further  admitted  to  herself  that  if 
Beilski's  emissaries  had  seized  her  instead  of  her  maid 
and  conveyed  her  to  his  headquarters,  she  would  have 
lost  her  head  as  her  maid  had  done. 

And  the  General  was  coming  to-day  to  worm  out  of 
her  all  he  could.  Of  course,  she  knew  she  would  be 
as  wax  in  his  hands.  But  even  above  her  own  imme- 
diate troubles  rose  the  one  anxious  thought  —  was 
Corsini  safe  ?  had  he  escaped  the  vengeance  of  her 
ruthless  brother  ? 

She  could  not  make  use  of  the  already  too  terrified 
Katerina  any  more.  She  sent  around  a  brief  note  to 
Corsini  at  his  hotel,  in  which  she  asked  him  to  pro- 
cure for  her  a  certain  piece  of  music  of  which  he  had 
spoken  to  her  in  a  brief  conversation  a  little  time  ago. 

The  messenger  came  back  with  the  information 
that  Signer  Corsini  was  engaged  in  his  duties  at  the 


192  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Opera,  and  that  the  note  would  be  given  him  on  his 
return. 

This  relieved  her  very  much.  Corsini,  at  any  rate, 
was  safe.  Her  strategies  had  succeeded.  She  braced 
her  nerves  for  the  forthcoming  interview  with  the 
General.  She  knew  it  would  be  a  strenuous  one. 
How,  in  the  name  of  all  that  was  marvellous,  had  he 
discovered  that  she  was  the  sender  of  that  letter  ? 

Beilski  had  chosen  a  most  fortunate  day  from  her 
point  of  view.  Her  mother  was  in  bed  with  a  fever- 
ish cold.  She  would  have  to  receive  the  General 
alone.  He  would  go  to  the  point  at  once.  If  she 
had  her  mother's  protecting  presence,  decency,  re- 
spect for  his  old  friend  of  many  years,  would  have 
tied  his  tongue  to  some  extent.  He  might  hint  his 
suspicions  of  Zouroff  to  a  sister;  he  would  conceal 
them  from  a  mother,  ruffian  as  he  knew  the  son  to  be. 
But  though  her  heart  was  fluttering,  she  received 
him  very  prettily  and  graciously.  Had  she  not 
known  him  from  a  child  ? 

"  An  unexpected  pleasure,  my  dear  General.  It  is 
not  often  that  you  come  to  the  Zouroff  Palace." 

"  Not  so  often  as  I  would  wish,  my  dear  child,  but 
my  time  is  very  fully  occupied.  As  you  can  guess, 
these  are  troublous  times.  How  is  your  dear 
mother  ?  " 

Nada  explained  that  the  Princess  was  in  bed  with 
the  first  symptoms  of  a  feverish  cold. 

The  General  took  a  few  sips  of  the  cup  of  tea  that 
the  charming  young  Princess  offered  him.  His  bushy 
eyebrows  worked  from  time  to  time.  He  was  a  per- 
fect gentleman  at  heart ;  he  was  also  very  chivalrous 


THE  lisTEIGUERS  193 

to  women.  He  did  not  at  all  relish  the  mission  he 
was  engaged  on.  It  was  the  breaking  of  a  butterfly 
upon  a  wheel,  and  the  butterfly  was  the  little  girl  to 
whom  he  used  to  bring  chocolates  and  bon-bons  a  few 
years  ago. 

"  Sorry  to  hear  it,  my  dear  child.  Keep  her  warm 
and  she  will  soon  be  all  right."  Of  course  he  was 
not  really  sorry  at  all  that  the  Princess  Zouroff  was 
well  out  of  the  way ;  it  was  now  all  plain  sailing. 

After  a  long  pause,  he  spoke  in  gruff  accents. 
"  There  is  no  need  to  fence,  ^Nada.  You  got  the 
message  from  your  maid.  You  know  why  I  have 
come  and  what  I  have  come  for." 

"  Yes,  I  know,"  answered  the  young  Princess  in  a 
faltering  voice. 

The  General  drew  his  chair  closer.  "  !N'ow,  out 
with  it  all.  From  whom  did  you  get  the  information 
that  prompted  you  to  write  that  letter  ?  " 


CHAPTEE  XVIII 

ZoTJROT-F  had  exulted  very  greatly  on  that  night 
when  he  had  said  good-bye  to  Corsini  at  the  doors  of 
the  Palace.  The  carriage  was  waiting  a  short  dis- 
tance away.  In  a  few  hours  the  young  musician 
would  cease  to  be  a  menace  to  him. 

He  was  doomed  to  grievous  disappointment.  One 
of  the  escaping  band  had  managed  to  despatch  a  tele- 
gram in  cipher  acquainting  him  with  the  fact  that  his 
plans  had  miscarried,  that  Corsini  had  been  rescued 
by  the  police  at  Pavlovsk. 

Upon  receipt  of  that  telegram,  he  went  into  one  of 
his  violent  rages,  but  of  course  nobody  witnessed  his 
distress.  After  he  had  recovered  himself,  he  sought 
out  his  valet  and  imparted  to  him  the  news. 

Later,  in  obedience  to  his  master's  instructions,  the 
valet  learned  that  Corsini  was  back  at  the  Opera ;  fur- 
ther, that  General  Beilski  had  surrounded  him  with 
a  strong  bodyguard,  which  was  to  protect  him,  in  an 
unobtrusive  fashion,  day  and  night. 

His  suspicions  fell  at  once  on  La  Belle  Quero.  If 
he  had  obeyed  the  promptings  of  his  wild  and  savage 
nature,  he  would  at  once  have  gone  to  her  dressing- 
room  at  the  Opera,  taxed  her  with  her  treachery,  and 
strangled  her  with  his  own  hands.  !Reedless  to  say, 
he  had  no  idea  of  the  part  played  by  his  sister  in  the 

rescue  of  the  hated  musician. 

194 


THE  INTKIGUEES  195 

But  he  was  wilj  as  well  as  savage.  lie  would  take 
his  owu  measures  with  this  treacherous  Spanish 
womau  in  due  course.  She  certainly  would  not  es- 
cape his  vengeance ;  but  he  would  do  nothing  rash, 
nothing  calculated  to  bring  his  own  neck  into  jeop- 
ardy. He  would  meet  her  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened.    He  would  be  more  lover-like  than  ever. 

And  things,  as  he  thought,  were  now  hastening  so 
rapidly  towards  the  goal  that  his  revenge  need  not  be 
long  delayed. 

Corsini  had  resumed  his  duties  at  the  Opera,  and 
his  brief  disappearance  had  been  plausibly  explained. 
The  story  of  a  short  indisposition  had  satisfied  all 
curiosity. 

His  feelings  at  this  particular  period  were,  per- 
haps, a  little  uncertain.  He  was  not  quite  sure  that 
the  excellent  Salmoros,  whom  he  had  once  looked  upon 
as  a  pure  and  benevolent  philanthropist,  ever  ready  to 
extend  a  helping  hand  to  a  struggling  genius,  had 
done  him  such  a  good  turn,  after  all. 

True,  he  had  made  certain  strides  in  his  calling: 
he  might  be  said  now  to  have  gained  a  European  repu- 
tation in  place  of  a  purely  local  one.  On  the  other 
hand,  he  was  mixed  up  in  the  political  schemes  of 
Golitzine.  He  had  been  kidnapped,  and  but  for  the 
tenderness  of  a  woman,  perhaps  two  women,  might 
have  been  done  to  death  by  now. 

On  the  whole,  England  seemed  a  safer  place  than 
Russia.  In  Russia  there  was  only  one  bright  spot. 
And  that  was  the  presence  of  the  Princess  jSTada. 

And  this  constant,  ubiquitous  bodyguard  annoyed 
him.     Of  course  he  was  quite  sensible  enough  to 


196  THE  INTEIGUEES 

know  that  it  was  necessary.  Wlaoever  his  enemy 
might  be,  Zoiiroff  or  another,  he  would  try  and  kidnap 
him  again,  undeterred  by  the  failure  of  the  first  at- 
tempt, Golitzine  and  the  Chief  of  Police  were  quite 
right  to  put  a  cordon  round  him. 

It  irked  him  very  much,  this  body  of  four  patient 
men  who  guarded  him  day  and  night,  not  in  any  way 
obtrusively,  but  always  within  reach  —  lurking  in  the 
corridor  of  his  hotel,  in  the  passages  and  lobbies  of 
the  Opera  House,  always  ready  to  rush  to  his  assist- 
ance if  he  were  suddenly  surprised. 

In  London  he  could  walk  east,  west,  south,  or  north 
without  fear  —  to  the  breezy  heights  of  Hampstead, 
the  sylvan  glades  of  Richmond.  For,  if  he  were  to 
seek  inspiration,  he  must  fly  from  closed  rooms,  from 
shut  doors,  and  hold  communion  with  the  stars. 

On  the  second  night  of  his  return,  the  four  patient 
men  accompanied  him  on  one  of  his  walks,  scattering 
discreetly,  but  ever  on  the  alert. 

Inspiration  had  come  to  him.  The  fugitive  notes, 
with  difficulty  recaptured,  were  shaping  themselves 
into  music  in  his  brain.  Suddenly  a  tall  figure 
loomed  out  of  the  darkness  and  stood  in  front  of  him. 
The  four  silent  watching  men  formed  up  and  drew 
closer. 

"  Do  not  fear,"  whispered  the  man ;  "  I  am  a 
friend.  I  see  there  are  men  looking  after  you.  They 
are  members  of  the  police,  I  am  Sure.  Tell  them  not 
to  be  afraid  for  your  safety ;  but  I  would  like  them  to 
withdraw  out  of  earshot." 

"  I  seem  to  remember  your  voice,  I  have  a  faint 
recollection  of  your  face,"  answered  Corsini,  "  but  at 


THE  INTRIGUEES  197. 

the  moment  I  cannot  recall  when  and  where  we  met." 

The  big  man  laughed  softly.  "  Throw  back  your 
memory  a  little  while.  A  lonely  road  leading  out  of 
a  still  more  lonely  village  filled  with  troops  and 
mounted  police.  Your  train  had  broken  down,  you 
had  taken  a  quiet  walk.  You  were  saying  your 
prayers  before  a  village  ikon.  There  suddenly  ap- 
peared a  tall,  bearded  man  who  implored  your  char- 
ity." 

Then  Corsini  recognised  him.  "  Ivan  the  Cuckoo, 
Ivan  the  outlaw !     What  are  you  doing  here  ?  " 

"  Get  your  friends  a  little  out  of  earshot  and  then 
we  can  talk  quietly,"  was  the  outlaw's  answer. 

Corsini  went  up  to  the  leader  of  the  four  men,  who 
had  drawn  very  close. 

"  This  is  a  man  whom  I  met  on  my  first  entrance 
into  this  country  under  very  strange  circumstances. 
I  have  good  reason  to  believe  he  is  well  disposed  to- 
wards me;  but  he  wishes  to  speak  to  me  in  private. 
Will  you  withdraw  a  little  so  that  you  cannot  hear 
what  he  says  ?  " 

The  chief  of  the  party  looked  somewhat  doubtfully 
on  the  big  figure  of  the  outlaw.  "  He  seems  a  bit  of 
a  ruffian,  Signer,  but  it  is  as  you  wish.  We  will  go 
out  of  earshot,  as  you  request,  but  we  will  keep  our 
pistols  well  levelled  at  him,  in  case  of  accident.  Yon 
are  sure  you  can  trust  him  ?  " 

"  I  think  so,"  replied  Corsini.  "  I  am  afraid  he 
is  not  a  very  estimable  character  and  his  appearance 
is  not  in  his  favour,  but  I  helped  him  once  when  he 
was  in  great  straits,  and  he  swore  to  return  the  obli- 
gation.    I  am  inclined  to  trust  him  myself." 


198  THE  INTKIGUERS 

The  four  men  withdrew.  The  big  man  chuckled 
quietly.  "  So  you  have  persuaded  them  to  get  out  of 
the  way.  They  were  urging  you  not  to  trust  me, 
eh  ?  " 

"  Something  of  the  sort.  Well,  Ivan,  what  have 
you  got  to  say  ?  " 

"  Simply  this.  On  that  day  you  saved  me,  when 
the  police  were  waiting  within  a  few  yards  to  trap 
me  like  a  rabbit,  I  swore  I  would  pay  back  the  debt, 
did  I  not?" 

"  You  did,  Ivan.  I  remember  that  promise  well. 
But  you  don't  mean  to  say  you  are  going  to  pay  it 
back  to-night." 

"If  not  to-night,  very  shortly,  Signor  Corsini. 
You  see,  I  know  something  about  you.  Well,  I  will 
tell  you  something  you  may,  or  may  not,  know ;  you 
have  a  very  bitter  enemy,  who  is  resolved  to  hunt  you 
to  death." 

"  That  is  true,  Ivan.  I  can  guess  his  name,  but 
you  know  it.     Is  that  not  so  ?  " 

"  It  is  quite  true,"  replied  the  outlaw  in  low  tones. 
"  Your  enemy  is  mine,  too,  the  dastard  and  scoundrel 
who  enjoys  the  style  and  title  of  Prince  Zouroff." 

"  Your  enemy  also?  "  queried  Corsini  in  wonder- 
ing tones.  "  But  how  can  you  have  crossed  his 
path  ?  " 

"  I  have  a  heavy  account  against  the  man  and  his 
family,"  answered  the  outlaw  in  his  low,  fierce  voice. 
"  In  the  old  bad  days  of  serfdom,  his  father,  who  was 
even  a  bigger  ruffian,  if  it  is  possible,  than  his  son, 
had  my  father  flogged  to  death  for  a  trivial  offence. 
That  was  burnt  into  my  brain." 


THE  INTKIGUERS  199 

He  tore  open  his  clothes  and  showed  his  naked 
chest,  on  which  was  a  long  scar. 

"  You  see  that.  Boris  insulted  mj  sister,  a  pure 
and  innocent  girl,  born  on  his  estate  as  I  was.  She 
told  me  the  story.  I  borrowed  a  sword.  I  lay  in 
wait  for  him  in  the  woods  one  night.  I  challenged 
him  to  fight.  I  wounded  him,  thank  Heaven,  but 
he  got  his  sword  in  too  and  left  me  with  that  scar. 
You  can  guess  that  I  have  got  a  big  account  against 
this  Prince  who  swaggers  about  St.  Petersburg  and 
boasts  amongst  his  intimates  that  he  will  dethrone  the 
Czar." 

For  a  few  seconds  the  outlaw  paused,  struggling  to 
regain  his  composure,  which  the  recital  of  his  wrongs 
had  so  disturbed. 

"  After  that  incident,  you  will  guess  there  was  no 
safety  for  me,  Signor.  It  was  no  longer  possible  for 
me  to  remain  on  this  villain's  estate,"  he  resumed. 
"  I  wandered  forth  to  embrace  a  life  of  crime  —  to 
become  a  thief,  a  bandit,  a  marauder.  But,  as 
Heaven  is  my  judge,  my  guilt  lies  at  his  door." 

"  You  spoke  of  repaying  a  debt,  Ivan,"  interjected 
Corsini,  with  a  view  of  recalling  the  unhappy  man 
from  these  troublous  and  disturbing  memories. 
"  And  if  not  to-night,  very  shortly.  I  don't  know 
that  I  very  much  desire  repayment.  What  I  did  was 
out  of  feelings  of  humanity.  Some  people  might  say 
misplaced  humanity.  But  what  I  did  that  night  I 
should  do  again  to-morrow  if  we  were  both  in  the 
same  position." 

The  big,  bearded  man  regained  his  calmness,  and 
spoke  in  slow,  measured  tones.     "  I  have  seen  your 


200  THE  INTEIGUERS 

portrait  in  the  newspapers,  Signer,  and  so  was  able 
to  give  a  name  to  my  preserver.  It  is  in  my  power 
to  put  you  in  possession  of  an  important  secret  that 
will  bring  great  distinction  to  you,  when  you  impart 
it  to  the  proper  quarters.  In  return  you  will  secure 
for  me  a  full  pardon.  I  am  not  asking  too  exorbitant 
a  price ;  I  am  sure  you  will  admit  that." 

"  It  is  a  secret,  I  can  guess,  concerning  the  man 
whom  you  describe  as  our  common  enemy,  Prince 
Boris  Zouroff." 

Ivan  nodded  his  big  head.  "  Listen !  I  have 
many  friends  in  St.  Petersburg,  most  of  them  cer- 
tainly not  of  a  reputable  class.  But  I  have  one 
friend,  quite  a  decent  and  honest  fellow,  bom  like 
myself  on  the  Prince's  estates.  His  name  is  Stepan, 
and  he  is  in  the  service  of  the  well-known  opera- 
singer,  popularly  known  as  La  Belle  Quero." 

Corsini  started.  At  first  he  had  felt  inclined  to 
pay  little  heed  to  the  outlaw's  rather  wild  talk.  How 
could  a  man  in  his  position  be  of  any  serious  use,  a 
man  who  had  to  skulk  in  obscure  corners,  lest  he  drew 
upon  himself  the  too  vigilant  attention  of  the  police  ? 

"  Stepan  and  I  were  boys  together  and  great  com- 
rades. The  poor  fellow  is  heavily  handicapped  in 
the  fact  that  he  is  very  deaf.  At  times  he  can  hear 
a  little,  but  his  hearing  is  never  to  be  depended  on. 
He  was  rather  a  favourite  of  Zouroff's,  who,  I  sup- 
'pose,  found  him  useful  in  certain  ways,  perhaps  be- 
cause of  his  infirmity:  what  he  could  not  hear  he 
could  not  communicate  to  others." 

"  I  quite  understand,"  interposed  the  young 
Italian. 


THE  mXKlGUERS  201 

"  Some  considerable  time  ago,  Zouroff  brought  him 
up  from  the  country  and  installed  him  in  the  service 
of  Madame  Quero.  Of  course  he  had  a  motive  in 
this,  which  you  will  presently  comprehend.  I  must 
explain  to  you  that  owing  to  his  deafness  being  so 
acute,  all  those  who  want  to  speak  to  him  have  to  use 
signs.  All  the  same,  he  is  a  very  intelligent  fellow, 
and  can  see  through  a  brick  wall  as  clearly  as  any- 
body.    His  speech  is  affected,  too." 

"  For  what  purpose  did  his  master  hand  him  over 
to  Madame  Quero  ?  "  queried  Corsini. 

"  I  will  explain.  Signer.  The  singer  has  con- 
stantly at  her  house  parties  of  men ;  no  other  woman 
but  herself  appears  at  them ;  and  these  parties  consist 
of  Zouroff  and  his  friends.  I  have  made  it  my  busi- 
ness to  find  out  all  their  names.  You  can  have  that 
list  when  you  want  it ;  it  will  be  useful  to  certain  per- 
sons in  high  quarters." 

Decidedly,    Ivan   was   growing   very    interesting. 
The  young  Italian  listened  with  the  closest  atten- 
tion. 

"  In  the  side  wall  of  Madame  Quero's  villa  there 
is  a  secret  door,  my  friend  Stepan  is  janitor.  On  the 
night  when  these  parties  assemble  he  is  on  duty.  A 
small  bell  is  pulled,  which  he  cannot  hear,  but  he  sees 
the  wire  of  it  vibrating.  Stepan  ushers  them  into  an 
inner  chamber  across  which,  screening  it  from  the 
small  vestibule,  hang  heavy  black  velvet  curtains. 
These  men.  Signer,  are  conspirators,  one  and  all. 
Stepan  is  too  deaf  to  overhear  what  they  are  conspir- 
ing about,  but  he  has  his  suspicions." 

"  One  moment,  Ivan,"  interrupted  Corsini.     "  You 


202  THE  INTRIGUEES 

said  that  Prince  Zouroff  has  showed  this  man  favours. 
Is  he  not  loyal  to  his  master  ?  " 

"  IS"©  more  loyal  than  I  am,  Signor,  although,  like 
him,  I  was  bom  on  the  villain's  estates.  Shall  I  tell 
you  why  ?  When  Stepan  was  a  youngster,  before  thia 
terrible  deafness  came  upon  him,  he  was  in  love  with 
my  sister.  You  can  now  understand  that  he  hates 
ZourofF  with  only  a  few  degrees  less  hatred  than  my- 
self." 

"  It  is  quite  intelligible,  Ivan.     Please  go  on." 

"  Now  I  am  getting  to  the  point  where  you  come 
in,"  explained  the  outlaw.  The  four  patient  men 
were  still  watching  the  prolonged  interview,  with  their 
pistols  ready  to  be  discharged  at  a  moment's  notice, 
should  this  burly  stranger  show  any  suspicious  move- 
ment. 

"  These  men  conduct  their  conversation  in  French ; 
that  much  Stepan  knows.  On  the  nights  of  these  as- 
semblies, both  the  vestibule  and  inner  chamber  are 
rery  dimly  illuminated.  Stepan  could  manage  to 
hide  me  there  to  overhear.  But,  as  you  know,  Signor, 
I  speak  French  very  imperfectly  myself  and  it  would 
be  impossible  for  me  to  follow  them.  I  often  have  to 
ask  you  to  repeat  your  words  slowly,  to  catch  the 
sense." 

Corsini  admitted  that  it  was  so. 

"  !Now,  Signor,  here  comes  the  strange  thing,  a  co- 
incidence that  must  have  been  fashioned  by  Provi- 
dence to  direct  our  ends.  In  a  dim  light,  you  and 
Stepan  are  as  alike  as  two  peas;  it  was  this  resem- 
blance that  put  the  idea  into  my  head.     I  will  not 


THE  INTRIGUEES  203 

say  that  in  the  hroad  daylight  the  difference  between 
you  might  not  be  discernible." 

Corsini  drew  a  deep  breath.  He  was  beginning  to 
have  an  idea  of  the  scheme  which  had  worked  in 
Ivan's  cunning  brain.  "  You  want  to  dress  me  up  as 
Stepan,  put  me  in  his  place,  and  overhear  what  they 
are  plotting,  so  that  I  can  communicate  it  to  the 
police?  " 

"  Precisely,  Signor.     Is  it  not  a  great  idea  ?  " 

"  It  sounds  pretty  well,  my  friend,  but  there  are 
one  or  two  little  things  that  might  confound  your 
scheme.  Has  it  occurred  to  you  that,  since  the 
Prince  might  communicate  with  me  by  signs,  I  might 
not  be  able  to  understand  the  alphabet." 

"  I  have  arranged  for  all  that,  Signor,"  replied  the 
big  man,  who  was  pretty  full  of  resource.  "  There 
13  a  fair-sized  cupboard  in  the  vestibule  in  which 
Stepan  can  hide  himself  while  you  are  listening. 
You  pull  open  the  cupboard  and  he  can  change  places 
with  you  when  you  please.  You  can  do  this  as  often 
as  you  like  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye." 

Corsini  smiled.  "  Admirably  thought  out,  Ivan, 
but  there  will  be  no  need.  I  know  the  alphabet  per- 
fectly ;  I  learned  it  when  a  boy,  and  since  my  short 
sojourn  here  I  have  picked  up  a  fair  amount  of  Rus- 
sian.    Of  course  Zouroff  speaks  Russian  to  Stepan." 

The  outlaw  smiled  gleefully.  "  No,  Signor ;  every- 
thing, I  see,  is  working  most  smoothly  for  our  plans. 
Zouroff  had  the  boy  very  well  educated ;  he  can  speak 
French  as  well  as  you  can,  and  the  Prince  always  ex- 
presses himself  to  him  in  that  language." 


(I 


204  •        THE  INTEIGUEES 

"  Then  all  should  go  very  smoothly,  Ivan.  When 
do  you  want  me  to  take  up  my  role;  in  other  words, 
when  does  the  next  meeting  at  the  villa  take  place  ?  " 

"  To-morrow  night  or  the  night  after,  I  cannot  he 
sure.  But  I  shall  hear  from  Stepan  to-morrow,  who 
will  be  informed  by  Madame  Quero.  I  will  send  you 
round  a  note  to  your  hotel,"  answered  the  outlaw. 
And  at  what  hour  do  they  assemble  ?  " 
Shortly  after  midnight,  Signor.  Here,  by  the 
way,  is  a  list  of  the  names  which  you  might  like  to 
show.  I  take  it,  after  our  conversation,  you  will  go 
at  once  to  General  Beilski  and  tell  him  what  you  have 
learned." 

Corsini  nodded.  It  was  not,  however,  his  idea  to 
repair  to  that  somewhat  pompous  functionary.  He 
proposed  to  seek  the  astute  secretary,  Golitzine,  at  his 
own  house ;  failing  that,  at  the  Winter  Palace. 

"  And  you  will  not  forget  the  free  pardon,  Signor, 
for  the  poor  outlaw  who  was  driven  to  a  life  of  crime 
through  the  wrongs  perpetrated  upon  him  and  his  by 
the  Zouroffs,  father  and  son." 

"  i^o,  Ivan,  I  will  not  forget  that.  I  shall  also 
press  for  a  substantial  reward,  if  things  come  off  as 
we  hope.  ISTow,  supposing  I  want  to  communicate 
with  you?  Will  you  let  me  have  your  address,  or 
not?" 

Ivan  pointed  his  hand  in  the  direction  of  the  four 
waiting  men. 

"  I  am  rather  fearful  of  this  sort  of  gentry,  Signor, 
as  you  can  well  imagine.  But  I  trust  you ;  I  proved 
your  metal  that  night  when  I  found  you  in  front  of 
the  ikon.     I  know  you  will  not  betra;^  me.     Still,  do 


THE  INTKIGUERS  205 

not  write  to  me  unless  absolutely  necessary,  and  be 
very  careful  of  your  messenger.  Anyway,  address 
me  under  an  assumed  name." 

He  drew  a  dirty  piece  of  paper  out  of  his  pocket 
and  scribbled  upon  it  the  address  of  his  mean  lodging, 
in  one  of  the  commonest  quarters  of  the  town ;  also 
the  assumed  name  by  which  he  was  to  be  addressed. 

Corsini  held  out  his  hand.  "  Well,  Ivan,  if  this 
all  turns  out  well,  you  will  have  more  than  repaid 
your  obligation.  Good-night;  I  will  get  that  free 
pardon  for  you,  rely  upon  it.  I  shall  hear  from  you 
to-morrow  or  next  day  at  the  latest." 

He  watched  the  big  figure  of  the  outlaw  well  out  of 
sight.  Then  he  beckoned  to  the  leader  of  the  four 
men. 

"  A  most  fortunate  meeting,"  he  said,  in  a  cheerful 
voice.  "  I  am  now  going  straight  on  to  Count  Go 
litzine.     I  will  try  his  house  first" 


CHAPTER  XIX 

But  Golitzine  was  not  at  his  house.  Corsini  ex- 
changed a  few  words  with  the  Countess,  who  informed 
him  that  her  husband  was  at  the  Winter  Palace, 
closeted  wath  the  Emperor  on  important  matters. 
She  did  not  expect  him  to  return  till  very  late. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances,  Xello  would  have 
refrained  from  intruding  himself  on  the  Secretary 
when  engaged  with  his  Imperial  Master,  but  the  in- 
formation which  Ivan  had  given  him  was  genuine:  of 
that  he  felt  assured. 

Delay  might  be  dangerous.  The  failure  of  Zou- 
roff's  scheme  to  entrap  the  young  director,  the  knowl- 
edge that  there  must  have  been  treachery  amongst 
his  associates,  would  render  the  Prince  a  verv  des- 
perate  man.  Whatever  coup  he  meditated  would  be 
brought  off  swiftly,  before  the  other  side  had  time  to 
strike. 

He  sent  up  a  short  note  to  Golitzine,  stating  that  he 
had  come  into  the  receipt  of  most  important  informa- 
tion, obtained  from  a  most  unexpected  quarter. 

The  Count  showed  the  note  to  the  Emperor,  who 
read  it,  and  said  immediately: 

"  Have  him  up  at  once  and  let  us  know  what  it  is. 

I  have  always  had  a  notion  that  this  young  fellow 

would  be  useful  to  us.     I  believe  he  is  born  to  be 

lucky  himself  and  to  bring  luck  to  those  with  whom 

he  is  associated." 

206 


THE  INTRIGUEKS  207 

So  Corsini  was  shown  at  once  into  the  august 
presence. 

The  autocrat  welcomed  him  most  graciously.  Any 
protege  of  his  staunch  old  friend  and  supporter,  Sal- 
moros,  would  have  been  sure  of  his  good  graces  in  any 
case ;  but  he  liked  the  young  man  personally,  for  his 
modest,  but  assured  bearing.  And,  moreover,  Cor- 
sini was  free  from  the  cringing  arts  of  the  profes- 
sional courtier.  In  his  demeanour  there  was  proper 
respect,  but  no  servility. 

"  Welcome  back  to  St.  Petersburg,  Signor.  I  hear 
you  have  had  a  trying  time.  I  have  had  a  full  report 
of  the  occurrence  from  the  Count  and  General  Beilski. 
I  hope  it  will  not  be  long  before  we  give  you  your  re- 
venge." 

"  I  am  in  hopes  that  very  shortly  I  may  take  a 
hand  in  that  revenge  myself,  your  Majesty,"  answered 
the  young  Italian  with  a  low  bow.  "  Something  very- 
extraordinary  has  happened  to-night.  I  was  taking 
one  of  my  evening  strolls,  shadowed  by  men  whom  the 
General  has  kindly  instructed  to  look  after  my  safety, 
when  I  was  accosted  by  a  man  whom  I  met  under 
strange  circumstances,  on  my  first  entrance  into  this 
country." 

"  His  name  ?  but  perhaps  we  don't  know  him,"  in- 
terrupted tlie  Count. 

Corsini  looked  a  little  troubled.  He  remembered 
his  promise  to  the  outlaw.  He  must  secure  that  free 
pardon  in  advance. 

"  May  I  first  be  permitted  to  retail  to  your  Majesty 
and  your  Excellency  the  information  he  gave  me  ?  " 

"We  are  in  your  hands,  Signor  Corsini,"  answered 


208  THE  INTRIGUEES 

the  Emperor  graciously,  and  the  Count  nodded  his 
head  in  assent. 

Briefly  the  young  man  told  them  what  Ivan  had 
communicated  to  him  —  the  secret  meetings  of  cer- 
tain well-known  nobles,  whose  names  he  imparted,  at 
the  villa  of  Madame  Quero ;  the  attendance  in  the  ves- 
tibule of  the  deaf  servant,  Stepan,  whom  he  almost 
exactly  resembled ;  the  suggestion  that  he  should  take 
Stepan's  place  and  listen  to  the  conversation  of  the 
conspirators,  whose  chief  was  Prince  ZourofF.  He 
added  that  the  next  meeting  would  be  to-morrow 
night,  or,  at  latest,  the  night  after. 

"  It  will  be  to-morrow  night,  of  that  we  may  be 
certain,"  said  the  Emperor  in  a  decided  tone,  when 
the  young  man  had  finished.  "  Zouroff  cannot  be 
very  happy  at  the  present  moment,  after  the  failure 
of  his  attempt  to  put  the  Signer  out  of  the  way.  He 
is  also  pretty  certain  to  know  that  General  Beilski  has 
visited  his  sister;  that  fact  will  give  him  some  food 
for  thought.  Besides,  although  these  two  scoundrels, 
whom  we  have  secured,  have  not  confessed  yet,  at  any 
moment  they  may  open  their  mouths  to  denounce  him. 
If  Zouroff  has  got  his  plans  pretty  well  matured,  he 
will  strike  with  as  little  delay  as  possible.  Do  you 
agree,  Count  ?  " 

The  Count  agreed,  and  then  addressed  Corsini. 

"  And  now.  Signer,  I  think  it  is  time  you  gave  us 
the  name  of  this  mysterious  informant.  I  do  not 
know  whether  his  action  is  dictated  by  loyalty,  or  the 
hope  of  reward.  But  anyway,  he  must  be  rewarded, 
and  handsomely  too." 

The     Emperor     concurred     warmly.     "Whoever 


THE  INTKIGUERS  209 

serves  us  will  not  find  us  niggardly  or  ungrateful," 
lie  said. 

"  Alas !  I  have  great  hesitation  in  mentioning  it  to 
your  Excellency,  for  my  strange  friend  is  by  no  means 
an  estimable  person.  Speaking  plainly,  he  is  a  male- 
factor, and  has  escaped  from  the  mines  of  Siberia." 

"  In  other  words,  the  price  of  this  very  important 
information  is  a  handsome  reward  and  a  free  pardon. 
Well,"  the  Count  looked  towards  the  Emperor,  "  I 
suppose  I  have  your  Majesty's  permission  to  promise 
both." 

"  We  do  not  go  back  on  our  word,"  was  the  auto- 
crat's grave  answer.  "  A  deed  like  this,  performed 
from  whatever  motive,  purges  his  offences,  whatever 
they  may  be." 

And  then,  reassured,  Corsini  gave  the  name.  "  A 
big,  bearded  man,  bom  on  the  Prince's  estates,  known 
as  Ivan  the  outlaw,  nicknamed  Ivan  the  Cuckoo." 

"  I  know  of  him  by  reputation  —  a  desperate  fel- 
low, according  to  his  record,"  remarked  the  Count. 
"  And  how  did  you  first  become  acquainted  with  him. 
Signer  Corsini  ?  But  if  you  prefer  to  keep  it  a  se- 
cret, I  will  not  press  the  question." 

Corsini  took  advantage  of  Golitzine's  generosity. 
He  did  not  want  to  confess  that  he  had  helped  a  no- 
torious criminal  to  escape  from  justice.  "  I  think  I 
would  prefer  to  guard  it  as  a  secret,  your  Excellency, 
since  you  give  me  permission  to  do  so." 

"  Yet,  if  I  may  venture  to  relate  a  little  history  to 
you,"  he  added  a  moment  later,  "  I  think  I  might 
be  able  to  convince  you  that  this  wretched  man,  brutal 
and  degraded  as  he  became,  was  more  sinned  against 


210  THE  INTRIGUERS 

than  sinning."  In  a  few  words  he  told  him  of  the 
offences  of  the  Zouroffs,  father  and  son,  against  the 
outlaw's  family. 

The  Count  made  no  comment.  After  a  few  mo- 
ments he  rose,  to  intimate  that  the  interview  was  at 
an  end. 

"  With  your  assistance,  Signor  —  I  am,  of  course, 
assuming  that  the  scheme  will  go  through  as  this  un- 
fortunate man  has  planned  —  I  think  and  hope  we 
shall  soon  get  the  evidence  we  want.  I  fear  I  cannot 
give  you  any  more  time  now,  as  his  Majesty  has  still 
some  very  important  matters  to  discuss  with  me.  By 
the  way,  I  know  that  General  Beilski  is  sending  for 
you  early  to-morrow  morning,  as  he  has  something  of 
importance  to  communicate  to  you.  I  shall  have  an 
interview  with  him  also,  but  in  case  you  see  him  first, 
tell  him  everything  you  have  told  us.  He  may  be 
able  to  assist  your  plans.  You  will,  of  course,  re- 
port to  us  as  soon  as  you  have  discovered  anything.' 

Corsini  promised  that  he  would.  He  had  a  strong 
presentiment  that  his  changing  places  with  the  deaf 
Stepan  would  be  productive  of  stupendous  events. 

On  arriving  back  at  his  hotel,  he  found  a  sealed 
note  from  the  General,  summoning  him  to  his  office  at 
an  early  hour  the  following  morning. 

"  I  have  not  been  idle  since  we  last  met,  Signor," 
was  Beilski's  greeting.  "  I  have  no  doubt  I  have  got 
to  the  bottom  of  your  affair.  I  will  give  you  just  an 
outline  of  how  I  propose  to  act." 

But  here  Nello  broke  in.  "  Excuse  me  a  moment, 
your  Excellency,  but  before  you  enter  into  this  mat- 


THE  lIsTKIGUERS  211 

ter,  may  I  put  a  question  to  you  ?  Have  you  seen  or 
heard  from  Count  Golitzine  between  now  and  last 
night?" 

The  General  answered  in  the  negative.  "  It  is  now 
only  nine  o'clock;  there  has  not  been  much  time. 
Why  do  you  ask  ?  " 

The  young  man  explained.  "  Late  last  night  I 
went  to  see  the  Count,  whom  I  found  closeted  with 
his  Majesty.  My  reasons  for  disturbing  him  at  such 
a  moment  were  of  the  greatest  urgency.  As  I  left  he 
told  me  you  would  be  sending  for  me,  and  that  if  I 
saw  you  first  I  was  to  tell  you  everything  that  I  had 
told  to  him  and  the  Emperor." 

Eor  the  second  time  he  related  in  full  the  details  of 
that  momentous  interview  with  Ivan  the  outlaw. 

The  General  smiled  triumphantly  when  the  narra- 
tive was  concluded.  "  So  this  fellow  has  been  lying 
hid  in  St.  Petersburg  all  this  time,  has  he  ?  Well,  I 
think  my  spies  ought  to  have  hunted  him  out.  Still, 
as  it  turns  out,  it  is  better  they  didn't.  Desperado 
and  robber  as  he  has  been,  I  frankly  admit  he  has 
fully  earned  the  free  pardon  which  you  were  shrewd 
enough  to  get  for  him." 

He  mused  a  few  moments  before  he  proceeded. 
"  The  information  you  have  given  me  may  materially 
alter  our  plans.  I  cannot  decide  positively  till  I  have 
talked  with  his  Excellency.  But  I  doubt  if  we  shall 
move  till  we  get  some  positive  information  from  you. 
In  the  meantime,  I  will  tell  you  to  what  extent  I  have 
unravelled  the  plot  against  yourself." 

Needless  to  say  that  Nello  was  all  attention.  '  He 


212  THE  INTRIGUERS 

had  his  own  suspicions,  which  were  very  close  to  the 
truth,  but  Beilski  was  prohablj  on  the  track  of  the 
truth  itself. 

"  On  the  afternoon  of  the  day  that  you  were  kid- 
napped, I  received  a  letter  couched  in  cautious  and 
guarded  language  to  the  effect  that  a  carriage,  starting 
from  St.  Petersburg  somewhere  about  midnight  or 
later,  would  halt  at  Pavlovsk.  There  was  a  plot  on 
hand  to  deport  a  certain  person  well  known  in  artistic 
circles.  That  person  would  be  found  in  the  carriage 
when  it  stopped  at  the  first  stage  on  the  road  to 
Moscow." 

Kello  shuddered.  How  well  he  recalled  the  inci- 
dents of  that  memorable  evening  —  the  Prince's  ap- 
parent cordiality,  the  Princess's  almost  officious  offer 
of  a  carriage  to  convey  him  home,  the  short  walk 
through  the  silent  streets,  the  sudden  appearance  out 
of  the  dark  of  the  four  sinister  figures,  the  waking  in 
a  room  of  the  little  country  inn. 

"  There  was  a  certain  significance  in  the  fact  that 
the  writer  of  that  anonymous  letter,  evidently  a 
woman,  had  not  told  us  where  the  carriage  was  to  start 
from.  It  was  evident  that  while  she  wished  to  pro- 
tect the  victim,  she  also  wanted  to  shield,  so  far  as  she 
could,  the  perpetrators  of  the  outrage." 

"  It  was  Madame  Quero  who  wrote  that  letter?  " 
suggested  Nello  quickly. 

"  'No,  my  friend,  it  was  not,  although  it  would  be 
quite  correct  to  say  that  she  was  the  cause  of  that  let- 
ter being  written.  Of  course,  I  had  no  clue ;  the  note 
was  left  by  a  young  woman  whom  the  porter  took 
verv  little  notice  of:  he  was  not  at  all  sure  that  he 


THE  INTKlGUEliS  213 

would  remember  her.  That  night  I  was  dining  with 
the  Count  —  of  course,  treating  the  note  as  a  genuine 
one,  I  had  already  acted  upon  it  and  despatched  the 
police  to  Pavlovsk.  Just  as  I  was  about  to  leave,  a 
sudden  idea  occurred  to  me  to  show  it  to  Golitzine 
and  ask  him  if  he  could  help  me.  His  Excellency  is 
a  very  wonderful  man.  Above  all  men  that  I  have 
met,  he  possesses,  in  the  highest  degree,  the  qualities 
of  genius  and  intuition." 

Beilski  was  not  a  man  who  underrated  himself,  but 
he  was  not  mean  or  petty.  In  this  particular  matter 
he  was  disposed  to  give  to  the  Count  all  the  credit 
that  was  his  due,  even  although  it  compelled  him  to 
play  second  fiddle. 

"  With  the  rapidity  of  lightning,  he  jumped  at  the 
conclusion  that  you  were  the  person  threatened.  We 
made  sure  that  you  were  neither  at  the  Zouroff  Palace, 
where  you  had  told  him  you  were  going  to  play,  nor  at 
your  hotel.  Surmise,  under  such  circumstances,  be- 
came certainty.  The  rest  you  can  guess  almost  your- 
self." 

"  All  the  same,  I  would  like  you  to  tell  me,  Gen- 
eral," said  Corsini. 

"  The  letter  served  its  purpose  admirably,"  pursued 
General  Beilski.  "  You  were  rescued  and  brought 
back  to  St.  Petersburg,  One  significant  fact  you  re- 
vealed to  us  was  that  La  Belle  Qucro  had  strongly 
dissuaded  you  from  playing  at  the  Palace.  Another 
one,  equally  significant  in  our  eyes,  was  that  the  Prin- 
cess Nada  had  urged  you  not  to  walk  home  that  night. 
We  put  two  and  two  together." 

"  The  letter,  then,  might  have  been  sent  by  either 


214  THE  INTEIGUERS 

of  the  two  women  ?     That,  I  take  it,  is  your  Excel- 
lency's meaning?  "  commented  IsTello. 

"  Precisely.  I  had  the  two  maids  brought  before 
me.  The  singer's  I  soon  dismissed.  She  did  not 
correspond  in  the  slightest  degree  to  my  porter's 
rather  hazy  recollections  of  the  young  woman  who 
had  brought  the  note.  The  second  shot  was  more 
successful." 

"  The  maid  of  the  Princess  l^ada,  of  course  ?  " 

"  Yes,  a  slim  young  thing  —  I  forgot  to  say  the 
other  was  short  and  plump  —  frightened  out  of  her 
wits  by  the  sudden  turn  of  events.  Terrified  by  my- 
self, the  forbidding  aspect  of  her  surroundings,  the 
unknown  terrors  of  the  law,  she  made  no  pretence  of 
a  fight.  She  fell  upon  her  knees,  imploring  my 
clemency." 

"  So  it  was  the  Princess  Nada  who  sent  that  note 
with  the  object  of  saving  me  ?  "  asked  Nello.  There 
was  a  very  tender  look  in  his  eyes  as  he  spoke  her 
name. 

"  I  have  known  the  Princess  N^ada  from  her  child- 
hood," said  Beilski,  speaking  with  some  emotion. 
"  Her  mother,  father,  and  I  were  of  the  same  genera- 
tion. The  Princess  ZourofF  is  a  sweet  woman  — 
generous,  kind-hearted,  charitable;  the  daughter  is 
the  same.  The  old  Prince  was  a  rufiian  in  every  sense 
of  the  word  —  drunken,  dissolute,  vicious.  The  son 
is  a  rufiian  also,  but  he  has  missed  a  few  of  the  pater- 
nal vices.  He  is  not  a  confirmed  drunkard,  although 
he  takes  more  than  is  good  for  him,  as  is  well  known  to 
his  family  and  his  intimates.     And  he  is  only  mod- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  215 

erately  dissolute.  He  has  one  superiority  over  his 
father :  he  has  got  brains  and  ambition." 

"'  How  did  such  a  fair  flower  spring  from  such  a 
contaminated  soil  ?  "  asked  Corsini  wonderingly, 

Beilski  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Who  can  tell  ? 
A  freak  of  nature,  I  suppose.  But  remember  the 
mother  is  pure,  and  comes  from  a  family  without  a 
taint  Well,  to  resume.  When  the  maid  had  stam- 
mered forth  her  confession,  for  an  instant  a  horrible 
suspicion  assailed  my  mind.  We  know  ZourofF  to  be 
a  traitor  whom  we  have  not  yet  succeeded  in  unmask- 
ing. Was  his  innocent-looking  sister  involved  in  his 
schemes  ?  " 

Xello  leaned  forward  in  a  state  of  agitation.  For 
an  instant,  on  hearing  that  it  was  the  Princess  and 
not  La  Belle  Quero  who  had  sent  that  letter,  a  siTnilar 
doubt  had  occurred  to  him. 

"  I  took  the  bull  by  the  horns.  I  sent  a  message 
by  the  maid  that  I  would  call  upon  her  mistress  that 
same  day,  that  she  was  to  inform  her  of  what  she  had 
confessed." 

"  And  you  went  and  interviewed  the  Princess  ?  " 
asked  Corsini. 

"  Yes ;  fortunately  I  found  her  alone ;  her  mother 
was  in  bed  with  a  feverish  cold.  She  was  nervous 
and  agitated,  as  was  to  be  expected,  but  one  moment's 
glance  at  her  face  convinced  me  that  she  was  no  guilty 
woman,  enmeshed  with  her  own  consent  in  her  broth- 
er's vile  schemes." 

The  young  man  drew  a  deep  breath  of  relief.  He 
had  always  held  the  highest  opinion  of  her  character. 


216  THE  INTEIGUEES 

There  would  be  some  satisfactory  explanation  forth- 
coming of  her  actions. 

A  little  note  of  pomposity  and  self-congratulation 
crept  into  Beilski's  voice.  "  I  need  hardly  tell  you 
that  an  innocent  and  inexperienced  girl  like  this  was 
as  wax  in  my  hands.  With  a  woman  of  Madame 
Quero's  experience,  my  task  might  have  been  more 
difficult." 

"  I  can  quite  believe  it,"  murmured  Corsini. 

"  In  five  minutes  I  had  the  whole  truth  out  of  her. 
Well,  perhaps,  not  quite  the  whole  truth,"  admitted 
the  General  reluctantly,  "  for,  woman-like,  although 
she  has  no  love  for  her  brother,  she  did  not  want  to 
give  him  away,  to  render  certain  the  punishment 
which  he  richly  deserves." 

"  And  her  story,  your  Excellency  ?  "  asked  the 
young  man  eagerly. 

"  Briefly  it  was  this.  Madame  Quero  called  upon 
her  to  report  that  there  was  a  plot  to  decoy  you  and 
convey  you  to  an  unknown  destination  —  she  did  not 
know,  or  pretended  she  did  not  know,  your  ultimate 
fate,  neither  did  she  know  where  the  carriage  was  to 
start  from;  she  was  only  sure  that  the  first  stoppage 
was  to  be  at  Pavlovsk.  This  of  course  was  Nada's 
version.  It  at  once  occurred  to  me  that  these  ladies, 
if  they  knew  so  much,  would  know  a  little  more. 
They  were  not  both  of  them  ignorant,  but,  of  course, 
one  might  be.     Which  was  the  ignorant  one  ?  " 

"  The  Princess,  of  course,"  said  Corsini  at  once. 
^'  La  Belle  Quero  knew  where  the  carriage  started 
from,  but  did  not  want  to  implicate  Zouroff,  as  it  was 


THE  INTEIGUEKS  217 

drawn  up  so  close  to  his  residence.  She  pretended 
ignorance." 

The  General  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  laughed 
genially.  He  was  very  pleased  with  himself,  for  what 
he  was  about  to  relate  was  really  his  own  master- 
stroke. It  owed  nothing  to  the  more  inventive  genius 
of  Golitzine. 

"  That  is,  of  course,  what  would  occur  to  you,  what 
would  occur  to,  I  dare  say,  ninety-nine  persons  out  of 
a  hundred.  I  am  the  hundredth,  and  I  have  had 
great  experience."  The  General  spoke  with  an  air  of 
profound  wisdom.  "  La  Belle  Quero  had  only  cer- 
tain suspicions,  fostered  by  some  random  remark 
dropped  by  Zouroff  in  a  moment  of  intense  rage  and 
irritation.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  she  knew  no  details. 
She  did  not  know  of  a  carriage  at  all,  and  conse- 
quently she  was  ignorant  of  where  it  started  from  or 
where  it  was  going  to." 

"  The  Princess,  then !  "  interrupted  ISTello,  in 

a  voice  of  the  most  intense  surprise. 

"  The    Princess,    then !  "    repeated    Beilski. 

"  I  saw  that  poor  little  Nada's  story  was  lame  and 
halting;  of  course  I  guessed  the  reason  why.  I 
pressed  her  with  the  question  why,  if  La  Belle  Quero, 
from  whom  she  got  her  information,  knew  where  the 
carriage  was  going  to,  she  did  not  know  where  it 
started  from.  Both  her  answer  and  demeanour  were 
too  evasive  to  deceive  me.  I  could  not  break  her  any 
more  on  the  wheel ;  I  saw  she  had  had  about  as  much 
as  she  could  stand.     I  selected  another  victim." 

"  Madame  Quero,  of  course,"  cried  Corsini. 


218  THE  INTEIGUERS 

"  Wrong  again,  my  friend :  you  hare  not  yet  quite 
got  the  analytical  faculty  tlaat  makes  a  great  detective. 
I  had  the  maid  before  me  again,  this  time  more  terri- 
fied than  before.  If  I  had  stretched  her  on  the  rack, 
she  could  not  have  poured  it  forth  more  fully." 

"  And  the  outcome  ?  "  was  Corsini's  eager  question. 

"  What  I  had  made  up  my  mind  v^as  the  fact. 
ZourofP  is  not  the  man  to  impart  the  details  of  his 
plans  to  any  but  his  immediate  instruments.  He  im- 
parted them  neither  to  Quero  nor  his  sister." 

He  related  to  Corsini  what  the  reader  already 
knows.  The  visit  of  the  singer  to  the  Princess,  of 
her  suspicion  that  a  plot  wns  on  foot  against  the 
Italian,  of  her  suggestion  that  TsTada  should  institute 
some  inquiries  in  the  Zouroff  household,  of  the  valet, 
Peter's,  confidence  to  Katerina,  the  Princess's  swift 
deductions  from  these  revelations. 

"  I  have  gone  farther,"  concluded  the  General. 
"  I  have  interrogated  that  scoundrel,  Peter,  as  to 
what  he  knows  about  his  master's  general  projects, 
and  more  especially  your  abduction.  But  I  have  not 
given  poor  little  Katerina  away,  or  the  young  Prin- 
cess. I  have  led  him  to  infer  that  I  was  acting  on 
the  confession  of  the  two  scoundrels  we  have  got  in 
custody." 

"  And  what  attitude  did  he  take?  " 

"  At  first,  one  of  stupidity,  complicated  with  sullen 
defiance.  But  towards  the  end  of  the  interview,  I 
could  see  that  his  heart  was  being  softened.  I  told 
him  to  consider  it  carefully,  full  confession  and  a 
full  pardon,  or  —  the  utmost  rigour  of  the  law." 

"  And  he  will  at  once  tell  Zouroff,"  suggested  Cor- 


THE  INTRIGUERS  219 

sini.     "  That  is,  if  he  is  really  loyal  to  the  Prince." 

Beilski  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  He  may  and  he 
may  not.  I  expect  he  will  be  thinking  chiefly  of  his 
own  skin.  On  the  other  hand,  ruffians  like  the 
Prince  have  a  remarkable  knack  of  attracting  loyalty. 
At  any  rate,  it  does  not  matter.  In  a  couple  of  days 
I  should  have  laid  my  hands  on  him  for  this  matter 
alone  —  I  have  no  doubt  they  would  have  taken  you 
to  some  lonely  place  and  finished  you  off  —  but  I 
shall  wait,  if  necessary,  a  little  longer  for  the  report 
of  your  visit  to  the  villa.  If  that  is  what  we  expect 
it  to  be,  we  will  have  done  with  this  gentleman,  once 
and  for  all." 

"  Amen !  "  cried  Corsini  fervently.  In  spite  of 
his  English  upbringing,  he  had  in  him  the  true  spirit 
of  Italian  revenge.  He  loved  the  Princess  Nada,  but 
for  her  brother,  who  would  have  taken  his  life,  he 
had  no  mercy. 

He  walked  home  to  his  hotel,  followed  at  an  un- 
obtrusive distance  by  his  guards.  His  heart  was 
singing  happily  within  him,  as  a  result  of  his  inter- 
view with  the  bluff,  but  genial  General. 

He  was  grateful  to  La  Belle  Quero  for  her  un- 
selfish interference  on  his  behalf:  she  had  braved 
detection,  Zouroff's  vengeance,  on  his  account. 
When  his  lips  were  unsealed  he  would  express  to  the 
singer  his  thanks. 

But  it  was  the  Princess  who  had  more  fully 
schemed  and  plotted,  sot  to  work  her  woman's  wit, 
and  ultimately  triumphed  on  his  behalf.  Was  it  duo 
to  a  kind  pure  woman's  compassion  only,  or  —  de- 
licious thought  —  was  she  attracted  to  him  as  he  was 


220  THE  INTEIGUEKS 

to  her?  Was  it  love  that  had  stimulated  her  brain, 
urged  her  to  that  desperate  measure  of  the  anony- 
mous note  to  the  Chief  of  Police  ? 

A  letter  was  handed  to  him  by  the  hall-porter  as 
he  entered  the  hotel.  He  was  told  that  it  had  been 
delivered  by  a  shabbily-dressed  man,  who  would  not 
wait  for  his  return. 

It  was  from  Ivan,  no  longer  an  outlaw,  and  ran  as 
follows : 

"  Come  to  my  lodging  with  your  guards  at  twelve- 
thirty  to-night.  The  meeting  is  an  hour  later.  I 
will  give  you  full  instructions.     Your  Friend." 


CHAPTER  XX 

Petee  the  valet  was  a  man  of  criminal  instincts, 
cunning,  avaricious,  and  unscrupulous.  Perhaps  his 
sole  remaining  qualities  were  his  devotion  to  his  mas- 
ter, Zouroff,  and  his  ardent  love  for  the  Princess's 
maid,  Katerina. 

His  interview  with  the  formidable  and  awe-inspir- 
ing Beilski  had  shaken  him  considerably.  His  faith 
in  Zouroff  was  great,  but  in  that  brief  conversation 
he  had  begun  to  realise  the  sinister  power  of  the  po- 
lice, at  which  body,  the  Prince,  in  his  arrogance,  was 
wont  to  snap  his  fingers. 

He  returned  home  full  of  thought  and  much  per- 
turbed. He  had  already  determined  in  his  own  mind 
the  cause  of  the  failure  to  remove  Corsini.  In  an 
unguarded  moment,  he  had  revealed  to  Katerina  cer- 
tain facts  about  a  travelling  carriage  whose  first 
stoppage  was  to  be  at  Pavlovsk.  Katerina  had 
blabbed  all  this  to  somebody. 

But,  until  his  interview  with  Beilski,  he  had  been 
content  to  let  matters  stand  where  they  were.  It  did 
not  greatly  concern  him  that  Corsini  had  been  res- 
cued and  was  back  again  in  St.  Petersburg.  His 
master  would  never  suspect  him:  he  would  rather 
suspect  one  of  the  four  other  men  of  having  given  it 
away,  for  the  sake  of  the  reward  that  he  would  claim. 

So  reasoned  Peter  in  his  narrow,  but  cunning  brain. 

221 


222  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Therefore,  for  many  reasons,  he  did  not  tax  Katerina 
at  once  with  the  betrayal  of  his  misplaced  confidence. 
Beilski's   threat   set  his  thoughts  working  vigor- 
ously in  the  direction  of  self-preservation.     He  was 
devoted  to  the  Prince,  but  he  was  still  more  devoted 
to   himself.     If   he   could   have   saved    Zouroff,    he 
would,  but  that  seemed  impossible,  the  Police  knew 
too  much.     But  he  could  save  himself  by  telling  what 
he  knew.     It  was  necessary  therefore  to  earn  that 
free  pardon.     It  was  only  a  matter  of  hours  before  he 
would  go  to  the  General  and  make  a  full  confession. 
It  hurt  him  very  much  that  he  should  crown  so 
many  years  of  fidelity  with  such  a  black  act,  but  it 
seemed  a  question  of  sauve  qui  peut.     Loyal  as  he 
had  been  to  his  master,  he  knew  enough  of  his  charac- 
ter to  be  sure  that  the  Prince,  in  a  similar  emergency, 
would  have  thrown  him,  and  a  dozen  like  him,  to  the 
wolves   in    order    to   purchase    a   moment's    respite. 
Why  should  he  pursue  a  different  policy  ? 

Beilski  had  promised  a  free  pardon,  and  also  not 
to  implicate  him  in  the  transaction.  Still  Zouroff 
was  a  man  of  extraordinary  shrewdness,  and  when 
he  began  to  work  it  out  in  his  mind,  might  quickly 
focus  his  suspicions  in  the  right  direction. 

How  to  avert  Zouroff's  suspicions  from  himself! 
That  was  the  question.  His  narrow,  but  cunning 
brain  bent  itself  upon  this  for  some  time.  At  the 
end  of  his  cogitations,  he  sought  Katerina,  and 
bluntly  taxed  her  with  the  betrayal  of  his  confidence. 
At  first,  Katerina,  with  the  natural  adroitness  of 
her  class  and  sex,  protested  indignant  denial ;  she 
vowed  that  she  had  forgotten  the  incident  altogether. 


THE  INTIUGUERS  223 

"  You  are  lying,"  said  her  lover  sternly.  "  If  you 
do  not  confess  this  instant,  I  will  take  you  to  the 
Prince  himself,  and  he  will  wring  the  truth  out  of 
you." 

Katerina's  face  went  white.  She  had  been  very 
frightened  at  Beilski,  but  her  terror  of  Zouroff  was 
greater  even  than  her  fear  of  the  Head  of  the  Police. 
If  she  saw  him  in  one  of  the  corridors,  she  would 
scuttle  away  like  an  alarmed  rabbit.  If  he  came  into 
her  young  mistress's  room,  she  was  agitated  till  he 
was  gone. 

In  a  few  moments,  what  with  her  fear  of  Zouroff 
and  her  genuine  love  for  Peter,  the"  artful  valet  had 
her  reduced  to  a  state  of  tears.  It  was  not  long  be- 
fore he  forced  out  of  her  everything  he  wanted  to 
know.  How  she  had  conveyed  the  information  to  the 
Princess,  how  she  had  taken  her  mistress's  note  to 
Beilski,  how,  later  on,  she  had  been  summoned  to 
the  presence  of  that  formidable  person  and  confessed 
much  as  she  was  doing  now. 

Peter  uttered  no  word  of  reproach ;  the  time  of 
reproaches  was  past;  but  he  saw  clearly  that  the 
game  was  up,  so  far  as  the  abduction  of  Corsini  was 
concerned.  The  sooner  he  made  a  clean  breast  of  it 
to  Beilski,  the  better.  At  the  same  time,  he  wanted 
to  throw  suspicion  upon  somebody  else. 

He  loved  Katerina  genuinely,  too  well  to  harm  a 
hair  of  her  head,  even  to  save  himself.  In  this  re- 
spect he  was  several  degrees  better  than  his  master, 
who  would  have  sacrificed  the  whole  world  for  such 
a  laudable  purpose. 

And  to  the  charming  young  Princess,   -with   her 


224  THE  INTEIGUERS 

gracious  ways,  her  sweet  friendliness  to  all,  lie  was 
also  strongly  attached.  He  would  not  harm  a  hair 
of  her  head,  if  he  could  help  it.  But  still,  his  first 
instinct  was  for  self. 

Besides,  if  he  gave  them  away,  he  would  be  giving 
himself  away,  also.  What  these  two  women  knew, 
mistress  and  maid,  they  must  have  learned  from  some 
member  of  the  Zouroif  household. 

Was  there  any  member  of  that  household,  except 
himself,  who  had  foreknowledge  of  the  Prince's 
plans  ?  He  was  inclined  to  doubt  it.  Confidants  he 
must  have,  when  engaged  in  so  many  dark  schemes, 
but  Zouroff  chose  as  few  as  possible.  Yet,  and  yet 
—  if  only  he  could  throw  suspicion  in  a  likely  quar- 
ter, on  somebody  else ! 

Katerina,  embarked  on  the  full  tide  of  confession 
and  genuinely  alarmed  for  her  lover's  safety,  babbled 
on  artlessly.  Peter  had  drawn  a  gloomy  picture  of 
the  vengeance  he  might  expect  at  the  hands  of  his 
master  for  that  innocent  gossip  of  a  few  moments, 
when  discovery  came  home  to  him,  as  it  was  sure  to 
do.  In  her  revelations  she  let  fall  the  fact  that  the 
celebrated  Madame  Quero  had  paid  a  visit  to  the 
Princess,  during  her  brother's  temporary  absence. 

Peter  pricked  up  his  ears  at  the  information.  He 
knew  full  well  the  relations  between  the  Prince  and 
the  handsome  singer.  Here  was  a  fact  that  might 
be  turned  to  his  advantage.  Madame  Quero,  he  felt 
assured,  participated  in  all  her  lover's  secrets. 

"  Have  you  any  proof  of  that  ?  "  he  asked  eagerly. 

Katerina  opened  wide  her  tear-dimmed  eyes. 
"  Proof  ?     Do  you  doubt  my  word  ?     Why,  she  gave 


THE  INTRIGUERS  225 

me  her  card,  and  the  Princess  handed  it  me  back  and 
told  me  to  return  it  to  her,  with  her  excuses  for  not 
receiving  her.  I  did  not  like  to  be  so  rude,  and  I 
put  it  in  my  pocket." 

"  Have  you  still  got  that  card,  Katerina  ?  "  ques- 
tioned the  valet  anxiously. 

"  Of  course  I  have.  I  kept  it  as  a  souvenir.  I 
regard  her  as  a  very  distinguished  person,  and  I  hear 
she  came  from  our  own  class.  The  Princess,  of 
course,  looks  upon  her  as  the  dirt  under  her  feet,  but 
in  her  position  there  is  no  blame,  perhaps,  for  her 
doing  that."  Thus  poor  Katerina,  divided  between 
loyalty  to  her  young  mistress  and  admiration  for  the 
beautiful  woman  who  had  overcome  such  formidable 
obstacles. 

The  artful  valet  put  his  arm  round  her  waist  and 
imprinted  a  fond  kiss  on  her  pretty  cheek. 

"  Katerina,  my  little  sweetheart,  I  think  you  will 
admit  you  owe  me  some  amends  for  your  foolish  in- 
discretion. Give  me  that  card,  and  we  will  cry  quits. 
But  not  a  word  to  the  Princess.  But  I  forgot.  You 
cannot  tell  her ;  you  ought  to  have  returned  it  to 
Madame  Quero." 

Katerina  was  glad  to  be  reconciled  to  her  lover  on 
such  cheap  terms.  Eive  minutes  later,  the  card  of 
La  Belle  Quero  was  in  Peter's  hands. 

And  then  Peter  thought  long  and  cunningly.  He 
had  made  up  his  mind  to  betray  his  master —  it  was 
a  matter  of  necessity  —  but  he  was  very  particular 
that  his  master  should  not  know  by  whom  he  was  be- 
trayed. There  was  Fritz,  the  German,  one  of  the 
four  men   implicated  in   the   abduction   of   Corsini. 


^226  THE  INTRIGUEKS 

Fritz  was  always  a  shifty  person,  ready  to  sell  himself 
to  the  highest  bidder.  Peter  felt  assured  that  Zour- 
ofFs  suspicions  were  already  centred  on  Fritz.  He 
was  one  of  the  two  men  who  had  escaped,  no  doubt 
with  the  connivance  of  the  police;  anyway,  that  would 
be  Zouroff'g  view. 

The  possession  of  Madame  Quero's  card  had  sug- 
gested new  lines  of  thought.  Of  course,  Peter  did 
not  know  to  what  extent  the  beautiful  singer  was  in 
the  Prince's  confidence.  Here,  naturally,  he  was 
groping  wildly  in  the  dark.  But  the  more  he  diverted 
Zouroff's  attention  from  himself  on  to  other  people, 
the  better. 

In  divulging  what  he  proposed  to  do  to  the  Prince, 
it  was  more  than  probable  that  he  would  implicate  the 
young  Princess  JSTada.  And  Peter  had  a  very  soft 
spot  in  his  heart  for  her.  Still,  it  was  simply  a  ques- 
tion of  saving  himself.  If  Zouroff  saw  red  and  laid 
all  about  him,  as  it  were,  !N'ada  must  protect  herself. 
Even  a  ruffian  like  Zouroff  would  exercise  some  com- 
punction when  his  sister  was  in  question.  With  re- 
gard to  La  Belle  Quero,  who  had,  at  times,  treated 
him  a  little  disdainfully,  with  the  slight  arrogance  of 
a  person  who  had  emerged  from  his  own  class  into  a 
superior  one,  Peter  felt  no  qualms.  The  Prince  and 
she  could  adjust  their  own  differences  at  the  proper 
time  and  hour. 

Later  on,  he  approached  Zouroff  with  his  fawning 
and  cringing  aspect,  and  handed  him  Madame  Quero's 
card. 

"  You  know  that  my  eyes  and  ears  are  always  open 


THE  INTRIGUERS  227 

in  your  Excellency's  service,"  he  whined.     "  That  is 
what  I  have  found." 

Zouroff's  face  grew  as  hlack  as  thunder  as  he  read 
it.     "  She  has  been  here,  then.     To  see  whom  ?  " 

Peter  shrugged  his  shoulders.  He  wanted  to  be  as 
nou-committal  as  possible.  "  That  I  cannot  tell. 
Your  Excellency  may  guess  better  than  I." 

The  Prince  looked  at  him  long  and  intently. 
Peter  was  a  very  cunning  rogue ;  that  he  knew  full 
well ;  but  he  was  the  last  man  he  was  inclined  to  sus- 
pect. 

"  How  did  you  come  into  possession  of  this  ?  "  he 
thundered. 

But  Peter  was  determined  not  to  implicate  his 
sweetheart,  Katerina.  In  this  respect  he  was  a 
slightly  better  man  than  his  master. 

"  Your  Excellency  will  excuse  me ;  my  lips  are 
sealed.  One  must  be  faithful  to  one's  comrades. 
There  are  wheels  within  wheels,  as  you  well  know." 

The  Prince  nodded.  He  knew  Peter  well.  In 
many  ways  he  was  docile  and  obedient,  but  it  was 
always  politic  not  to  push  him  too  far ;  on  such  occa- 
sions the  valet  was  apt  to  take  on  a  spirit  of  sturdy 
independence  which  his  master  was  compelled  to 
respect.  Wild  horses  would  not  draw  from  him  how, 
or  through  whom,  he  had  discovered  that  card. 

"  Leave  me,  Peter,  if  you  please,"  commanded 
Zouroff.  "  I  must  be  alone  to  think  this  thing  over, 
since  you  say  your  lips  are  sealed." 

He  shook  his  fist  angrily  in  the  direction  of  the 
retreating  valet.     "  Ali,    for  my  good   old  father's 


228  THE  INTEIGUEKS 

days,"  he  murmured  regretfully.  "  I  would  have 
had  it  out  of  you  with  the  knout  then,  my  excellent 
friend." 

Left  alone,  Zouroff  pondered  out  all  these  things 
in  his  subtle  brain.  The  treacherous  Madame  Quero 
had  come  to  the  Palace,  to  seek  whom,  and  to  what 
purpose  ? 

Rumour,  gathered  at  the  sage  door,  and  in  the  more 
intimate  circles  of  the  profession,  averred  that  the 
handsome  singer  was  in  love  with  Corsini.  '  He  had 
also  his  impressions  of  his  sister  in  connection  with 
the  handsome  young  Italian.  He  had  watched  them 
together  in  that  prolonged  conversation  on  the  night 
of  the  concert  at  the  Zouroff  Palace,  on  quitting  which, 
Corsini  had  been  abducted. 

Eapidly  in  his  own  mind,  he  reconstructed  the  se- 
quence of  events.  Madame  Quero  was  in  love  with 
Corsini.  He  gnashed  his  teeth  as  he  remembered  he 
had  been  fool  enough  to  suggest  to  the  Spanish  woman 
that  Corsini  must  disappear.  She  had  acted  on  that 
hint  and  come  straight  to  the  Palace  to  invoke  his 
sister's  assistance  in  rescuing  Corsini. 

His  sister  was  in  love  with  Corsini  herself.  The 
two  rivals  had  united  to  save  their  common  lover, 
and  their  measures  had  been  well  taken.  The  police 
had  met  the  carriage  at  Pavlovsk,  rescued  the  drugged 
and  inanimate  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera,  and 
brought  him  safely  back  to  St.  Petersburg.  And,  in 
the  capital,  so  Zouroff  was  assured  by  his  spies,  he 
was  being  safely  guarded  by  Beilski's  men.  The 
Government  and  the  police  were  proving  themselves 


THE  INTRIGUEES  229 

very  cunning,  almost  as  cunning  as  Zouroff  himself. 

So  far  he  had  reasoned  things  out  very  logically. 
Now  came  the  one  thing  for  which  he  could  not  ac- 
count. To  La  Quero  he  had  given  no  details,  and  as 
he  had  not  given  them  to  her,  she  could  not  communi- 
cate them  to  his  sister.     Here  was  a  final  stop. 

And  yet,  the  carriage  containing  Corsini,  drugged 
and  bound,  had  been  surrounded  at  Pavlovsk  by  the 
police.  Somebody,  then,  had  given  information. 
Who  was  that  somebody  ? 

His  suspicion  fell  at  once  on  Fritz,  the  German, 
chiefly,  perhaps,  because  Fritz  had  been  found  guilty 
of  minor  acts  of  disloyalty  in  previous  transactions. 
For  a  man  of  his  acute  intelligence,  it  was,  perhaps, 
a  little  surprising  that  he  did  not,  at  first  hand,  sus- 
pect Peter. 

But  Peter  had  just  disarmed  his  suspicions  by 
handing  to  him  Madame  Quero's  card.  Yes,  Peter 
was  loyal,  if  every  other  person  was  tainted  with 
treacherv. 

There  emerged  from  his  strenuous  efforts  to  get 
at  the  trutU  some  clear  and  certain  facts,  accord- 
ing to  his  own  deductions,  which  were,  of  course^ 
erroneous. 

Madame  Quero  had  been  informed  by  Fritz  of  the 
actual  facts:  that  Corsini  was  to  be  kidnapped  just 
outside  the  precincts  of  the  Palace,  that  the  carriage 
was  to  stop  on  its  first  stage  on  the  Moscow  road  at 
Pavlovsk. 

He  had  to  admit  that  there  were  flaws  in  his  rea- 
soning. If  Madame  Quero  had  got  this  information 
from  Fritz,  and  she  was  resolved  to  save  Corsini,  she 


230  THE  1^'TEIGUERS 

could  have  informed  the  police  herself.  Why  had 
she  come  to  the  Palace,  to  invoke  the  assistance  of 
Nada? 

Pending  his  cogitations,  he  had  recourse  to  stimu- 
lants, as  was  his  wont  on  such  occasions.  Amid  the 
fumes  of  alcohol  he  solved  the  problem,  as  he  thought. 
Quero,  not  wishing  to  appear  herself,  had  made  his 
sister  her  instrument.  He  ground  his  teeth,  and 
vowed  implacable  revenge  upon  hie  once  sweetheart, 
La  Belle  Quero. 

But  his  anger  against  his  sister  was  hardly  less 
burning.  To  think  that  this  innocent  young  girl, 
only  just  out  of  the  schoolroom,  should  dare  to  thwart 
his  plans. 

He  burst  into  her  sitting-room,  his  face  red  and 
inflamed  from  his  secret  drinking.  She  recognised 
the  symptoms  at  once.  He  had  one  of  his  wild  fits 
of  brutal  and  unreasoning  rage. 

He  attacked  her  at  once,  in  uimieasured  language. 

"  You  are  a  disgrace  to  your  sex,"  he  shouted 
wildly,  "  a  disgrace  to  the  noble  house  of  Zouroff,  to 
the  name  you  bear." 

The  young  Princess  looked  at  him  calmly  and 
steadfastly,  with  her  clear  gaze.  He  was  a  wild  beast 
at  the  moment  —  she  saw  that ;  also  gathered  that  he 
had  been  drinking  heavily.  Wild  beasts  are  some- 
times tamed  by  the  eye.  She  never  took  her  glance 
off  him. 

"  Of  what  do  you  accuse  me  ?  "  she  asked  in  cold 
and  cutting  accents.  "  In  what  way  have  I,  of  all 
the  members  of  our  family,  disgraced  the  house  of 
Zouroff?" 


THE  INTKIGUEES  231 

The  Prince  spluttered  forth  his  accusations. 
"  You  hare  disgraced  yourself  by  falling  in  love  with 
a  strolling  player,  that  mountebank,  Corsini." 

Of  course  he  was  still  master  enough  of  himself  not 
to  reveal  all  he  knew,  or  thought  he  knew. 

The  Princess  drew  herself  up  haughtily.  It  was 
not  the  first  time  she  had  encountered  her  brother  in 
this  mood. 

"  I  don't  think  you  know  what  you  are  talking 
about,  Boris ;  I  can  see  your  condition  very  plainly. 
Signer  Corsini  is  not  a  strolling  player  —  that  de- 
scription applies  to  the  destitute  members  of  the  thea- 
trical profession.  Corsini  is  a  musician,  an  artist, 
and  the  Director  of  the  Imperial  Opera.  Think  of 
some  other  expression  that  will  vent  your  rage  and 
spite,  but  don't  call  him  '  a  strolling  player.'  " 

"  But  whatever  he  is,  you  love  him,"  thundered  the 
Prince,  now  fairly  consumed  with  rage. 

The  young  Princess  kept  her  temper,  h^  tone  waa 
as  cutting  as  before. 

"  You  insult  me  with  these  questions,"  she  said 
calmly.  "  Return  to  me  when  you  are  sober  and  I 
may  perhaps  be  able  to  talk  with  you,  reason  with 
you."  She  was  thinking  of  a  few  hints  dropped  by 
General  Beilski  f-u  his  brief  visit  to  her. 

"  And  if  I  do  not  choose  to  leave  at  your  bidding," 
retorted  the  Prince,  in  a  jeering  tone.  "  Suppose 
I  insist  upon  remaining  and  finishing  our  conversa- 
tion!" 

"  In  that  case  I  shall  leave  the  Palace  for  good." 
And  suddenly  her  woman's  strength  gave  way,  op- 
posed to  that  of  this  resolute  ruffian  and  bully.     "  If 


232  THE  IISTTEIGUEES 

our  dear  mother  were  here,  you  would  not  dare  to  stay 
in  this  room  a  moment  longer.  You  take  advantage 
of  my  weakness,"  she  cried  tearfully. 

"  Our  dear  mother,"  mimicked  Zouroff,  in  mocking 
accents.  "  You  and  your  mother  have  always  held 
together  against  me ;  you  always  held  against  my  dear 
father  in  the  old  days." 

"  Of  whom  you  are  a  worthy  son,"  flashed  the 
Princess,  with  an  angry  gesture.  She  had  poignant 
memories  of  those  old  days,  when  her  mother  had 
suffered  untold  indignities  at  the  hands  of  Prince 
Zouroff  the  elder,  indignities  which  had  bitten  into 
the  souls  of  both  wife  and  daughter.  Boris  was  the 
only  member  of  the  family  who  reverenced  the  name 
of  his  father,  for  the  very  simple  reason  that  he  par- 
took of  his  worst  qualities. 

And  then  a  softer  mood  came  to  her.  After  all, 
he  was  her  brother,  son  of  the  same  kind,  gentle 
mother.  She  went  across  to  him  and  placed  a  hand 
upon  his  shoulder. 

"  Be  reasonable,  Boris,  and  prudent.  I  can  guess 
more  than  you  think.  I  am  sure  you  are  playing  a 
very  dangerous  game.  Be  certain  on  your  side  that 
your  opponents  are  not  stronger  than  you." 

But  Zouroff  was  in  no  mood  to  listen  to  the  tender 
expostulations  of  a  woman,  especially  a  woman  whom 
he  despised  as  much  as  his  sister,  this  frail  girl  who 
took  after  her  gentle  mother,  who  had  in  her  none  of 
the  iron  qualities  of  his  brutal  father. 

He  flung  her  aside,  and  spoke  in  a  grating  voice. 

"  You  will  leave  the  Palace,  will  you  ?  Yes,  you 
shall,  but  when  and  how  I  choose.     There  is  your  own 


THE  INTRIGUERS  233 

little  comfortable  Castle  of  Tcbernoif.  Perhaps  if  I 
sent  you  there,  it  might  cool  your  hot  blood." 

The  Princess  flamed  up.  "  You  dare  not  think  of 
such  a  thing.  Brute  as  you  are,  you  would  not  dare 
to  do  it." 

"We  shall  see.  Remember  I  am  still  your  legal 
guardian/'  cried  the  Prince,  with  a  mocking  laugh, 
as  he  left  the  room. 

The  interview  had  sobered  him.  All  that  was  now 
working  in  his  mind  was,  first,  a  scheme  of  revenge 
upon-  La  Belle  Quero ;  second,  a  milder  scheme  of  re- 
venge against  his  sister. 

An  hour  later  Peter,  the  valet,  reported  himself  to 
General  Beilski  and  obtained  his  free  pardon  by  a  full 
confession.  And  the  General,  waiting  for  further 
developments,  stayed  his  hand  for  the  moment. 


CHAPTEK  XXI 

Needless  to  say  that  Nada  was  very  miicli  alarmed 
by  the  threat  which  her  brother  had  flung  at  her  when 
she  spoke  of  leaving  the  Palace.  She  tried  to  reason 
herself  into  the  belief  that  her  fears  were  groundless. 
In  their  not  infrequent  quarrels  he  had  more  than 
once  threatened  to  lock  her  up  in  that  gloomy  castle  in 
order  to  bring  her  to  her  senses. 

But  nothing  had  ever  come  of  it.  He  was  hot- 
headed and  overbearing,  but  she  did  not  believe  him 
to  be  vindictive.  Of  course,  in  forming  this  lenient 
estimate  of  a  character  not  to  be  very  easily  fathomed, 
she  was  grievously  mistaken. 

To-day  he  was  in  one  of  his  blind  rages,  and  he 
had,  moreover,  been  drinking.  At  such  times  he  was 
not  always  responsible  for  either  his  words  or  actions. 
In  a  few  hours  he  would  be  his  normal  self,  and  his 
senseless  anger  would  have  died  down. 

Still,  she  wished  that  she  could  take  counsel  with 
somebody.  She  could  not  go  to  her  mother.  The 
Princess's  cold  had  been  the  precursor  of  an  acute  at- 
tack of  diphtheria  of  such  an  infections  nature  that 
her  chamber  was  barred  to  everybody  except  the  nurse 
and  doctor. 

Relatives,  of  course,  ISTada  had  in  abundance,  but 

she  shrank  from  exposing  her  brother  to  these.     He 

was  unpopular  enough  with  his  family  as  it  was. 

234 


THE  INTRIGUERS  235 

She  could,  of  course,  send  round  a  note  to  Beilski, 
informing  him  of  her  brother's  threat  and  claiming 
his  protection;  but,  from  the  few  hints  the  General 
had  dropped,  she  could  see  that  he  was  already  suf- 
ficiently inflamed  against  Zouroff.  She  did  not  wish 
to  increase  that  resentment,  unless  it  were  absolutely 
necessary. 

But  still  she  felt  imperatively  the  desire  to  confide, 
in  somebody  to  hare  disinterested  counsel  as  to  the 
course  she  should  pursue. 

And  suddenly  the  idea  of  Corsini  occurred  to  her 
mind.  She  knew,  with  the  intuitive  instinct  of  a 
woman,  that  the  young  musician  had  fallen  deeply  in 
love  with  her,  that  if  for  certain  reasons  he  would 
never  go  so  far  as  to  confess  his  love,  she  would  ever 
find  in  him  a  true  and  devoted  friend. 

When  she  had  sent  that  letter  to  his  hotel  to  make 
sure  that  he  had  been  safely  brought  back  from  Pav- 
lovsk,  he  had  forwarded  her  the  piece  of  music  she 
had  asked  for,  as  an  excuse  for  writing  to  him. 

After  the  first  few  formal  lines  of  his  answering 
note,  he  had  vrritten  some  strange  words  —  words 
which  evidently  conveyed  a  deeper  meaning  than  ap- 
peared on  the  surface.  She  remembered  them  per- 
fectly. 

"  I  cannot  express  to  you  in  grateful  enough  lan- 
guage my  thanks  for  all  you  have  done  for  me.  Later 
on,  perhaps,  I  may  have  the  opportunity  of  rendering 
them  pei-sonally." 

Grateful  thanks  for  all  she  had  done  for  him! 
There  was  only  one  service  she  had  rendered  him 
which  could  call  for  such  warm  expressions.     But  had 


23G  THE  INTEIGUEES 

he  been  able  to  connect  her  with  that  ?  Had  he  been 
able  to  reason  it  out  in  his  own  mind  that  Zouroff 
was  the  man  who  dcFired  his  removal?  Or  had  he 
learned  it  all  from  Beilski  ? 

She  could  not  be  sure.  She  had  fenced  as  well  as 
she  could  with  Beilski,  but  the  fact  that  that  carriage 
had  been  drawn  up  within  a  few  yards  of  the  Palace 
certainly  supported  the  idea  that  the  Prince  was  the 
perpetrator  of  the  outrage.  Of  course,  she  knew 
nothing  of  the  General's  second  interview  with  Kat- 
erina ;  the  maid  had  thought  it  wiser  to  keep  that  to 
herself.  Neither  did  she  know  of  the  other  interview 
with  Peter  the  valet. 

Zouroff  had  gone  out,  leaving  word  that  he  would 
not  be  home  till  late  at  night,  very  shortly  after  that 
stormy  scene  between  the  pair.  The  coast  was  clear. 
She  would  send  round  a  note  to  Corsini  asking  him  to 
come  and  see  her  for  a  few  moments.  Her  maid 
would  be  waiting  for  him  and  would  at  once  conduct 
him  to  her  boudoir. 

She  would  then  endeavour  to  find  out  how  much 
he  knew;  and  if  he  had  discovered  the  absolute  truth, 
then  she  would  seek  his  counsel  and  advice. 

Corsini  went  to  the  Palace  at  once,  much  as  he  dis- 
liked entering  the  house  of  which  the  hateful  and 
treacherous  Prince  was  master. 

He  could  see  that  the  young  Princess  was  very  agi- 
tated as  she  greeted  him. 

"  It  is  very  kind  of  you  to  come  so  quickly,  Signer. 
What  I  really  wanted  to  see  you  about  was  this.  In 
that  letter  you  wrote  me  when  you  sent  me  that  piece 
of  music  I  asked  for,  you  made  use  of  certain  expres- 


THE  INTEIGUERS  237 

sions  which  I  could  not  quite  understand.  You  spoke 
of  mj  having  done  you  some  service  for  which  you 
wished  to  express  your  thanks." 

The  Italian  looked  at  her  steadily  and  intently,  but 
in  that  deep  gaze  there  was  a  very  tender  expression. 

"  Can  you  yourself  recall  no  service  that  you  have 
rendered  me,  Princess  ?  " 

So  he  knew.  Of  course,  if  he  had  not  guessed  of 
his  ovm  volition,  Beilski  would  have  told  him  that  she 
had  sent  that  letter  of  warning. 

"Ah,  I  see  you  have  found  out,"  she  faltered. 
"  Well,  on  the  spur  of  the  moment  I  did  my  best,  and 
I  am  glad  that  the  result  was  so  successful." 

"  I  shall  ever  remember  it  with  the  deepest  feelings 
of  gratitude,"  said  the  young  musician  fervently. 
"  It  could  have  been  no  light  matter  for  vou  to  act  as 
you  did,  to  run  the  risk  of  being  detected." 

There  was  now  no  further  need  of  fencing 
on  either  side.  "  Signor,  since  there  is  now  such  a 
frank  understanding  between  us,  I  want  to  ask  your 
advice  on  a  matter  that  is  troubling  me  very  much." 

In  tones  of  unmistakable  sincerity  he  assured  her 
that  his  services  were  whole-heartedly  at  her  disposal. 

"  My  mother,  alas !  cannot  help  me.  She  is  so 
seriously  ill  with  diphtheria  that  we  are  forbidden 
to  go  to  her  room ;  only  the  doctor  and  the  nurse  are 
allowed  there." 

Corsini  expressed  his  deep  regret  at  the  Princess's 
severe  indisposition,  l^ada  resumed,  in  her  soft, 
musical  voice : 

"  This  morning  my  brother  and  T  had  a  serious 
quarrel."     A  vivid  blush  spread  over  her  charming 


238  THE  INTEIGUERS 

face  as  she  recalled  how  the  quarrel  had  begun  with 
his  taunting  her  with  her  preference  for  the  man 
whom  he  called  "  a  strolling  player." 

"  We  have  had  many  quarrels  in  our  time,"  she 
explained.  "  He  is  violent  and  overbearing,  and 
breaks  in  the  most  ungovernable  rages.  At  such 
times,  I  think,  he  goes  actually  mad  for  the  moment. 
This  particular  quarrel,  however,  has  left  a  deeper 
impression  than  most.  He  has  threatened  to  lock  me 
up  in  a  gloomy  old  Castle  in  the  Caucasus,  as  a  pun- 
ishment for  my  venturing  to  incur  his  displeasure." 

"  And  is  there  any  valid,  or  sufficiently  appar- 
ent, reason  for  his  displeasure  ?  "  asked  Corsini. 
"  Or  perhaps  I  am  indiscreet  in  putting  that  ques- 
tion." 

"  Oh,  none  at  all,"  replied  the  Princess,  with  a  re- 
turn of  that  vivid  blush ;  "  mere  trifles  that  a  less  vio- 
lent man  would  smile  at.  He  has  used  this  threat 
once  or  twice  before,  but  to-day  he  spoke  as  if  he 
meant  it." 

Corsini  thought  deeply  before  he  answered.  Had 
Zouroff  actually  discovered  the  part  she  had  played 
in  his  rescue,  and  was  this  his  revenge  ? 

"  My  advice.  Princess,  is  to  leave  the  Palace,  and 
either  seek  shelter  with  some  relatives  or  claim  the 
protection  of  Golitzine  and  Beilski ;  if  necessary  of 
the  Emperor  himself.  The  Prince,  you  know  doubt- 
less, is  not  a  favourite  at  Court." 

"I  know,"  said  Nada  quickly.  "But  think  of 
the  awful  scandal  when  all  this  is  blazoned  forth. 
For  my  poor  mother's  sake  I  want  to  avoid  that." 

The  Italian  spoke  very  gravely.    "  The  scandal  will. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  239 

of  course,  be  regrettable.  But  compared  with  your 
own  safety,  I  should  not  give  it  a  moment's  consider- 
ation." 

He  stood  up,  and  his  calm  left  him  as  he  thought  of 
the  danger  she  ran  with  this  brutal  brother,  who 
seemed  capable  of  any  villainy. 

"  You  asked  for  my  advice,  Princess.  I  have  given 
it  and  repeat  it.  Leave  this  house  at  once  and  ac- 
quaint Beilski  with  all  you  have  told  me." 

"  You  mean  leave  it  now  —  to-day  ?  "  she  faltered. 
"  And  my  poor  mother  lying  so  ill  upstairs." 

"  That,  of  course,  from  what  I  know  and  can  guess 
of  the  Prince  would  provide  him  with  an  excellent 
reason  for  carrying  out  his  plans  as  quickly  as  possi- 
ble," observed  Corsini  bitterly. 

The  poor  young  Princess  seemed  overwhelmed  by 
the  position.  She  felt  Corsini's  advice  was  sound, 
and  yet  she  shrank  from  taking  such  a  decided  step. 
The  Prince  had  used  a  similar  threat  before,  and 
nothing  had  come  of  it. 

"  I  think  I  will  wait  till  I  see  him  again  to- 
morrow," she  said  presently.  "  I  shall  know  by  his 
mood  if  he  has  forgotten  the  incident.  Nothing  will 
occur  to-day.  He  has  gone  out,  and  left  word  that 
he  will  not  be  home  till  late  to-night." 

Yes,  he  would  be  late  home  to-night ;  Corsini  knew 
that  for  certain.  He  still  persisted,  however,  in  his 
point." 

"  Delays  axe  dangerous,  Princess.  I  will  help 
you  any  way  you  like.  And  it  will  be  wise  to  take 
advantage  of  his  long  absence  to  make  your  escape. 
Tell  me  your  destination,  and  I  vnW  myself  bring 


240  THE  mXRIGUEES 

round  a  carriage  to  some  quiet  entrance  where  you 
can  slip  out  unobserved.  I  have  not  told  you  that  I 
go  about  with  a  bodyguard  with  which  the  General 
furnished  me.  The  carriage  shall  be  told  to  go  at  a 
walking  pace.  I  and  my  attendants  will  keep  it  in 
sight  till  you  are  safely  at  your  destination." 

She  thanked  him  warmly,  but  still  persisted  that 
she  would  prefer  to  wait  till  to-morrow.  If  she 
changed  her  mind  before  the  day  was  out,  she  would 
slip  out  with  her  maid  and  take  a  passing  conveyance. 

Corsini  took  her  hand  and  held  it  for  a  little  time 
in  his,  while  he  gazed  earnestly  into  her  troubled  eyes, 
from  which  she  could  with  difficulty  keep  back  the 
tears. 

"  My  heart  bleeds  for  you,  dear  lady.  I  wish  I 
could  convince  you,  and  I  hate  to  leave  you  here. 
Will  you  let  me  know  to-morrow  to  what  course  of 
action  you  have  made  up  your  mind  ?  " 

She  promised  that  she  would,  and  the  young  man 
left  her  with  feelings  of  dire  foreboding.  Please 
Heaven,  this  night's  work  would  turn  out  so  well  that 
very  shortly  Zouroff  would  be  rendered  harmless  and 
impotent.  To  let  him  loose  on  the  world  was  like 
letting  a  wild  and  savage  beast  out  of  its  cage. 

The  Prince  did  return  to  the  Palace  about  the, 
middle  of  the  afternoon.  Was  his  message,  that  he 
would  not  be  home  till  late  at  night,  simply  a  blind  to 
lull  his  sister  into  a  false  sense  of  security  ?  He  did 
not  go  near  her ;  he  went  up  to  his  own  apartments  by 
a  private  staircase,  only  used  by  himself. 

He  summoned  his  valet,  Peter,  and  gave  him  some 
very  minute  instructions.     Peter,  knowing  what  was 


THE  INTPJGUERS  241 

in  store  for  his  truculent  master,  would  have  liked  to 
offer  a  little  sensible  advice,  to  dissuade  him  from  the 
course  he  was  bent  on  pursuing. 

But  the  habits  of  long  obedience,  the  fear  that  if 
he  opposed  him  in  the  smallest  detail  he  might  draw 
suspicion  upon  himself,  weighed  heavily  on  him. 
Reluctantly  he  agreed  to  obey  Zouroff's  orders. 
Later  on,  when  Zouroff  was  caged  himself,  he  might 
be  able  to  undo  the  mischief  he  had  promised  to  abet. 

The  Prince  stole  out  of  the  Palace  as  silently  as  he 
had  entered  it.  Nobody  but  Peter  and  another  serv- 
ant, as  much  in  his  confidence  as  the  valet  himself, 
knew  that  he  had  been  there. 

It  was  a  very  busy  day  with  him.  A  few  more 
hours  should  see  the  end  of  all  this  plotting  and 
scheming,  should  see  his  well-laid  plans  mature.  The 
thought  of  vengeance,  and  a  sense  of  coming  triumph, 
induced  in  him  a  certain  exultation  which  expressed 
itself  in  his  resolute  glance,  his  assured  bearing.  He 
made  his  way  on  foot  to  the  villa  of  Madame  Quero. 
He  had  made  up  his  mind  to  have  a  little  reckoning 
with  her,  in  order  to  wind  up  his  final  accounts. 

The  beautiful  singer  received  him  graciously.  A 
woman  of  capricious  moods,  she  had,  for  a  brief  space, 
admitted  to  herself  that  she  had  not  treated  him 
quite  fairly,  had  been  found  lacking  in  the  spirit  of 
trae  comradeship.  After  all,  Zouroff  had  loved  her 
in  his  rough,  masterful  way,  and  he  had  always  been 
generous. 

She  had  played  him  false  in  this  respect,  that  she 
had  allowed  herself  to  be  attracted  by  the  handsome 
young  Italian,  to  the  extent  of  thwarting  the  Prince's 


242  THE  INTKIGUERS 

plans  in  regard  to  him.  And  it  was  to  no  purpose. 
Corsini  was  in  love  with  the  Princess  ISTada,  no  doubt 
a  hopeless  passion  on  his  part.  But  he  would  never 
give  a  thought  to  her  save  in  the  way  of  friendship. 
And  that  was  the  last  thing  that  the  passionate  heart 
of  the  Spanish  woman  desired. 

When,  therefore,  Zouroff  entered  her  boudoir,  in 
apparently  one  of  his  best  moods,  she  felt  some  of  his 
old  attraction  for  her  returning.  She  little  knew 
what  deep  anger  against  her  was  burning  in  his  heart. 

But  he  was  a  skilful  diplomatist ;  he  showed  noth- 
ing of  this.  He  kissed  her  fondly,  with  the  warm 
kiss  of  a  man  who  hoped  some  day  to  make  her  his 
wife. 

"  Ah,  my  dear  sweetheart,  how  pleasant  to  see  you 
again !  "  said  the  base  hypocrite.  "  I  have  had  a 
busy  day.  Things  are  going  well.  It  vnll  not  be 
long  before  my  utmost  ambitions  are  realised."  He 
spoke  confidently;  he  was  ever  an  optimist,  and  he 
believed  in  his  own  particular  star. 

La  Belle  Quero  felt  an  inward  qualm.  Corsini 
was  nothing  to  her  now.  And,  in  that  brief  inter- 
view with  l^Tada,  she  had  surmised,  through  all  her 
girlish  dignity  and  reticence,  that  the  Princess  was 
more  than  half  in  love  with  him.  Otherwise,  would 
she  have  been  so  eager  to  save  him  ? 

But  if  Zouroff  triumphed,  as  he  seemed  to  have 
every  hope  of  doing,  the  Italian's  fate  would  be  sealed. 
And  Le  Belle  Quero  was  sure  she  could  not  save  him 
a  second  time.  The  fates  would  not  be  propitious  to 
her  again. 

"  Old  friends  are  best,  my  dear,"  said  the  Prince 


THE  INTRIGUERS  243 

in  his  most  agreeable  tones,  as  he  seated  himself  in 
one  of  the  luxurious  easy-chairs  and  lighted  a  ciga- 
rette. "  Somehow  a  little  cloud  seems  to  have  come 
between  us  lately,  I  should  like  to  remove  it." 

Madame  Quero  looked  a  little  uneasy.  She  knew 
full  well  to  what  he  was  alluding.  Her  obvious  ten- 
dresse  for  the  young  director  had  occasioned  a  good 
deal  of  talk ;  no  doubt  some  of  it  had  floated  to  Zour- 
off's  ears. 

"  Do  not  let  us  speak  of  clouds,  Boris.  We  have 
been  long  and  good  friends.  Let  us  be  good  friends 
again." 

"  With  all  my  heart,"  responded  the  Prince,  with 
his  most  charming  smile.  "  Well,  I  have  come  to 
tell  you  I  shall  not  be  at  the  Opera  to-night.  I  have 
to  see  a  great  many  people,  make  a  great  many  ar- 
rangements. I  cannot  tell  you  how  sorry'  I  am ;  I 
know  it  is  one  of  your  great  nights.  But  you  under- 
stand —  business  must  always  come  before  pleasure." 

Madame  assented  good  humoredly.  "  It  has  al- 
ways been  so  with  you,  Boris,  at  any  rate.  You  are 
a  great  man  in  many  ways,  perhaps  a  little  too  opti- 
mistic, a  little  too  sure  of  yourself." 

The  Prince  smiled  his  confident  smile.  "  A  pessi- 
mist is  not  much  good  in  this  world,  my  dear.  Be- 
lieve in  yourself  and  your  star,  and  you  will  become 
a  leader  of  men." 

"  Perhaps,"  sighed  Madame  Quero.  She  was  be- 
ginning to  bo  very  attracted  to  him  again.  He  was 
certainly  in  a  most  charmiug  mood  to-night ;  she  felt 
herself  carried  back  to  the  old  days  when  she  had 
been  infatuated  with  him,  with  his  virility,  his  assur- 


244  THE  INTRIGUERS 

ance,  even  the  liint  of  that  brutal  strength  which  lay 
at  the  back  of  his  plausible  exterior. 

At  length  the  Prince  rose.  "  I  wonder  whether 
you  would  do  me  a  little  kindness.  It  is  a  long 
time  since  we  had  a  meal  together  and  I  told  them  at 
home  I  should  not  be  back  till  late  to-night,  after 
the  meeting  here.  You  have  given  instructions  to 
Stepan  to  be  in  readiness  ?  " 

Yes,  she  had  given  instructions  to  Stepan. 

"  Then  you  will  give  me  a  little  snack  before  you 
start  for  the  Opera  ?  No  prolonged,  heavy  meal,  we 
have  neither  of  us  time  for  that,  just  something 
light." 

"  But,  of  course,  Boris.  You  are  always  welcome 
to  my  hospitality,  such  as  it  is.  You  will  be  here  an 
hour  before  I  have  to  start  for  the  Opera  ?  " 

The  hypocrite  bent  low  and  kissed  the  hand  she 
extended  to  him.  "  I  will  be  here  on  ihe  tick  of  the 
clock.  Au  revoir,  my  old  sweetheart,  who  has  come 
back  to  me  again." 

He  went  out,  intent  on  his  dark  schemes.  He 
plumed  himself  on  the  fact  that  he  had  played  his 
role  quite  well.  And  she,  this  treacherous  woman 
who  had  sold  him  on  account  of  her  sudden  fancy  for 
Corsini,  had  also  played  her  part  perfectly.  It  was 
diamond  cut  diamond,  but  he  was  sure  he  would  cut 
deeper  of  the  two. 

He  was  back  to  the  minute.  It  was  a  light  meal, 
but  Madame  Quero,  persuading  herself  that  she  was 
happy  in  this  sudden  reconciliation,  had  provided  him 
some  dainties  that  he  was  very  fond  of.  Zouroff  was 
in  the  highest  spirits;  he  praised  everything,  drank 


THE  INTEIGUEES  245 

her  health  several  times  in  the  excellent  champagne 
she  had  provided.  The  singer  ate  sparingly  and 
drank  very  little.  It  was  a  gala  night  at  the  Opera, 
she  had  to  be  careful  of  her  voice,  of  those  liquid 
notes  which  were  presently  to  charm  the  house. 

The  moments  lied  swiftly,  it  was  time  for  her  to 
start.  Zouroff  was  going  on  foot  to  the  house  of  a 
fellow  conspirator. 

He  bade  her  good-night,  and  carelessly  drew  a  small 
box  from  his  pocket.  "  See,  I  did  not  forget  you, 
I  have  brought  a  box  of  your  favourite  chocolates." 
He  pointed  with  his  finger  to  one.  "  See,  here  is 
a  fine  fat  fellow,  I  will  take  a  smaller  one." 

La  Quero  could  never  resist  chocolates.  She  took 
the  big  one  Zouroff  pointed  out  to  her  and  crunched 
it  in  her  even  white  teeth.  The  Prince  laid  the  box 
on  the  table. 

"  Good-night,"  he  said.  "  There  is  no  time  to  lose. 
We  are  both  a  little  late."  He  went  out,  with  a 
strange  smile  on  his  face. 

Looking  back  to  it  in  the  happy  after  years,  Cor- 
sini  always  declared  that  of  all  days  this  had  been 
the  most  eventful  day  in  his  life. 

At  the  hotel,  on  the  previous  evening,  he  had  found 
waiting  for  him  the  note  from  Ivan  the  Cuckoo,  who 
did  not  know  at  the  time  he  despatched  that  missive 
that  he  was  a  free  man.  Corsini,  accompanied  by  his 
faithful  bodyguard,  was  to  repair  to  Ivan's  mean 
lodging  that  night. 

Nello  was  not  without  a  spirit  of  adventure.  He 
was  rather  looking  forward  to  what  would  happen  at 
midnight.     He  was  to  change  places  with   Stepan, 


246  THE  INTKIGUERS 

lieavil}'-  handicapped  as  to  hearing  and  speech,  and 
listen  to  the  conversation  of  the  conspirators. 

It  was  a  gala  night  at  the  Opera.  The  Emperor 
and  his  consort  were  to  be  there.  On  such  ceremon- 
ious occasions,  Corsini  was  wont  to  conduct  the  or- 
chestra himself,  as  a  mark  of  respect  to  the  autocrat. 
The  Opera  given  on  this  particular  night  was  a  fa- 
mous masterpiece  in  those  days,  Rossini's  "  Semira- 
mide." 

It  was  a  great  house.  The  flower  of  Russia's  nobil- 
ity was  gathered  in  the  boxes  and  stalls  of  the  vast 
building,  the  men  attired  in  immaculate  costume,  the 
women  radiant  in  their  flashing  jewels.  In  a  far  box, 
Nello  saw  the  charming  young  Princess  with  an  eld- 
erly friend,  acting  as  her  chaperon  in  place  of  her 
mother.  Evidently  she  had  not  taken  his  advice. 
He  cast  a  lightning  glance  around  as  he  bowed  to  the 
plaudits  of  the  audience.  He  was  looking  for  Zour- 
off,  but  he  could  not  see  him.  If  the  Prince  was  in 
the  crowded  house,  he  had  missed  him.  Certainly  he 
was  not  in  the  box  where  his  sister  sat. 

He  conducted  the  overture.  In  a  few  moments  the 
curtain  would  rise.  Before  he  had  got  to  the  end  of 
the  last  few  bars,  there  was  heard  a  piercing  scream, 
the  cry  of  a  woman.  It  penetrated  to  every  comer 
of  the  building  and  created  an  uneasy  feeling  in  the 
audience. 

Nello  recognised  the  situation  at  once.  He  beat 
with  his  baton  on  the  desk  and  started  the  overture 
again.  Something  had  happened.  He  would  know 
in  a  few  minutes. 


THE  IXTRIGUEES  347 

At  last  the  curtain  rose.  The  stage-manager,  look- 
ing very  agitated,  appeared.  In  a  few  brief  sentences 
he  explained  that  Madame  Quero  had  been  attacked 
with  sudden  indisposition ;  that  he  must  crave  the 
indulgence  of  the  audience  for  her  understudy,  who 
would  take  her  place. 

Corsini  dared  not  leave  his  desk.  On  such  a  night 
as  this  he  could  not  affront  his  Emperor  and  this  bril- 
liant assemblage  by  deputing  his  task  to  a  subordi- 
nate. He  went  through  the  Opera  with  the  conscien- 
tious spirit  of  the  artist.  But  all  the  time  his 
thoughts  were  dwelling  on  La  Belle  Quero,  the  woman 
who  had  braved  Zouroff's  vengeance  in  order  to  save 
him. 

It  was  evidently  a  serious  indisposition.  K  it  had 
been  only  a  alight  attack,  the  handsome  singer  would 
have  pulled  herself  together  and  appeared  some  time 
in  the  course  of  the  evening.  With  her  jealous  tem- 
perament, she  was  not  the  woman  to  give  an  under- 
study too  big  a  chance. 

At  last  the  Opera  was  over,  the  brilliant  crowd  filed 
out.  Corsini  went  round  to  the  wings  to  inquire  after 
La  Belle  Quero.  One  of  his  subordinates  gave  him 
the  information  he  sought. 

"  Madame  Quero  is  very  ill.  Signer.  The  doctor 
was  called  in.  He  did  not  seem  quite  able  to  diag- 
nose her  symptoms.  Ho  had  her  conveyed  home  and 
consigned  to  the  care  of  her  own  maid  and  her  own 
physician." 

Corsini  at  once  despatched  a  messenger  to  the  villa, 
with  instructions  to  report  to  him  at  his  hotel.     The 


248  THE  IIsTTRIGUERS 

man  came  back  with  disquieting  news.  The  singer 
was  still  in  a  comatose  state,  and  her  life  was  de- 
spaired of. 

A  swift  thought  swept  through  the  Italian's  mind. 
Had  Zouroff  anything  to  do  with  this,  apparently, 
fatal  illness?  Had  he  discovered  the  part  she  had 
played  in  his  rescue  ? 

And  a  still  more  disturbing  thought  assailed  him. 
If  the  Prince  had  taken  this  swift  vengeance  on  La 
Belle  Quero,  it  would  not  be  long  before  he  revenged 
himself  on  Xada.  If  only  he  could  have  conveyed  a 
message  to  that  box,  to  entreat  her  to  fly  before  it  was 
too  late!  Zouroff  was  evidently  a  scoundrel  of  the 
deepest  dye  who  would  stick  at  nothing. 

But  he  could  not  act  himself.  Very  shortly  he 
must  go  to  the  mean  lodging  of  Ivan,  and  receive  his 
instructions  as  to  taking  the  place  of  the  deaf  and 
dumb  Stepan.  In  a  brief  space  he  would  be  inside 
that  villa  where  the  beautiful  singer  lay  dying. 

He  did  the  best  that  presented  itself  to  him.  He 
despatched  a  brief  note  to  Beilski. 

"  Madame  Quero  attacked  with  sudden  illness.  It 
is  reported  that  she  is  dying.  I  have  certain  suspi- 
cions of  a  person  well  known  to  us  both.  Please  probe 
the  matter.  I  cannot  go  myself.  You  know  where 
I  am  due  to-night." 

A  little  later,  Corsini,  escorted  by  his  vigilant 
bodyguard,  took  his  way  to  the  mean  quarter  of  the 
town  where  Ivan  was  lodged. 


CHAPTER  XXII 

IvAisr  met  him  in  the  doorway.  "  You  are  punc- 
tual, Signor,"  he  said,  as  he  ushered  him  into  the 
shabby  appartment. 

"  My  friend,  first  of  all,  you  are  no  longer  an  out- 
law," cried  Corsini  cheerfully  as  he  cast  his  glance 
round  the  dingy  room.  "  The  Emperor  himself  has 
graciously  accorded  a  full  and  free  pardon,  and  if  this 
night's  work  turns  out  well,  there  will  be  a  very  hand- 
some reward  in  addition.  So,  you  see,  things  are 
marching." 

The  outlaw  stretched  his  hands  out,  and  for  a  mo- 
ment it  seemed  as  if  he  would  dissolve  in  tears. 
Then  he  recovered  himself,  and  his  voice  rang  out, 
clear  and  firm. 

"  And,  at  last,  Signor,  I  shall  have  revenge  on 
those  who  -^Tongcd  me  and  my  family." 

"  Say  rather,  Ivan,  justice,  not  revenge,"  inter- 
rupted the  young  Italian  mildly. 

"  It  is  the  same,  Signor,  is  it  not  ?  "  cried  Ivan. 
He  pointed  with  his  finger  to  an  inert  figure  in  the 
comer  of  the  room,  apparently  inanimate. 

"  That  is  Stepan.     I  have  given  him  a  narcotic  in 

order  to  prevent  accidents.     He  does  not  look  at  his 

best  at  the  moment.     But  just  go  and  have  a  peep  at 

him  and  see  the  likeness  to  yourself." 

Corsini  crossed  over  the  small  room  and  looked  at 

249 


250  THE  INTEIGUERS 

the  prostrate  form  of  the  man,  wrapped  in  a  deep 
slumber,  and  breathing  heavily.  Yes,  Stepan  might 
have  been  his  twin  brother  under  normal  conditions. 
"  The  time  is  short,"  said  the  outlaw.  "  We  must 
make  you  look  as  like  Stepan  as  possible,  with  regard 
to  the  externals." 

He  went  to  the  door  and  whistled  softly.  A  small, 
slouching  man  answered  to  the  summons. 

"  Paul,  my  friend,"  said  Ivan  in  an  imperious  tone, 
"  I  have  told  you  something  of  this  affair.  You  have 
got  to  convert  this  gentleman  into  the  speaking  like- 
ness of  our  sleeping  friend.  Do  your  little  tricks  at 
once." 

The  small,  slouching  man  went  to  work  immed- 
iately. He  stripped  off  the  rough  clothes  from  the 
slumbering  man  in  the  corner,  and  signalled  to  Cor- 
sini  to  divest  himself  of  his  own  garments.  In  a 
trice,  Corsini  was  dressed  in  Stepan's  habiliments. 
He  then  proceeded  to  stain  his  face  and  hands. 

When  all  this  was  finished,  he  drew  back  with  a 
sense  of  pardonable  pride  in  his  own  deft  handiwork. 
"  Mon  Dieu!  it  is  Stepan  himself,"  he  cried  en- 
thusiastically. 

Corsini  took  a  survey  of  himself  in  a  small,  cracked 
mirror  that  hung  in  the  shabby  sitting-room.  He 
cast  a  further  glance  at  the  inert  form  lying  in  the 
comer.  Yes,  in  these  rough  clothes,  with  his  face 
and  hands  stained,  he  could  well  pass  for  Stepan  him- 
self in  a  dim  and  doubtful  light. 

"  It  is  just  about  time,"  said  Ivan,  when  these 
preparations  had  been  completed.  "  My  friend  Paul 
will  conduct  you  to  the  villa.     There  are  seven  win- 


THE  liXTKIGUEES  251 

dows  on  the  ground  floor,  built  very  high.  Under- 
neath the  fourth  window  the  blank  wall  is  of  wood. 
You  can  feel  it.  There  is  a  small  door  with  a  key- 
hole in  the  centre.  Here  is  the  key.  Paul  knows  it 
well ;  he  will  lead  you  to  it." 

The  small  slouching  man  led  Corsini  to  the  villa 
of  Madame  Quero.  The  four  silent  men  followed  in 
their  wake.  Arrived  at  the  villa,  Corsini  slipped 
easily  into  the  small  vestibule  to  await  the  arrival  of 
the  conspirators. 

"  You  are  well  in  time,  Monsieur,"  whispered  the 
man,  Paul,  as  he  took  his  departure.  "  Do  not  an- 
swer the  bell  too  quickly ;  watch  its  vibration  before 
you  respond.  You  must  remember  that  Stepan  is 
deaf.     You  will  excuse  me  for  giving  you  the  hint." 

Paul  departed.  The  four  guards  scattered  them- 
selves in  various  directions,  but  always  ready  to  asr 
semble  together  if  danger  threatened  the  man  they 
were  deputed  to  watch. 

Corsini  was  alone  in  the  little  vestibule.  He  drew 
aside  the  heavy  velvet  curtains  and  peered  into  the  in- 
ner room,  a  rather  spacious  chamber.  This  was  very 
dimly  lighted,  too.  But  evidently  Madame  Quero 
had  given  her  instructions.  A  cold  supper  was  laid 
out  on  the  long  table,  wi^h  several  bottles  of  cham- 
pagne. Upstairs,  no  doubt,  she  was  lying  between 
life  and  death,  no  longer  able  to  take  part  in  these 
festivities. 

The  bell  vibrated.  J^ello  opened  the  door  and 
made  a  low  obeisance.  Two  men  came  through  the 
narrow  doorway.  He  recognised  them  at  once :  they 
were  two  highly  distinguished  noblemen  of  the  Eus- 


252  THE  INTEIGUERS 

sian  Empire.  He  had  seen  them  several  times  at  the 
Opera. 

The  bell  vibrated  again  and  again.  Eive  more 
men  passed  through,  and  last  came  the  tall,  command- 
ing figure  of  Zouroff. 

In  the  dim  light  the  Prince  made  his  signs, 
"  They  are  all  here,  Stepan  ?  " 

And  the  supposed  Stepan  replied  in  answering 
signs,  "  I  think  they  are  all  here,  Excellency." 

Zouroff  passed  through  the  heavy  curtains.  Cor- 
sini  crouched  behind  and  bent  his  ears  to  listen. 

At  first  there  was  a  confused  babble  of  sounds. 
Everybody  seemed  to  be  talking  at  once.  But  for- 
tunately they  were  speaking  in  French  and  not  in 
Russian.  It  was  easier  for  Corsini  to  catch  what 
they  said. 

A  tall,  bearded  man  was  speaking.  "  This  infer- 
nal Corsini,  for  instance.  No  doubt  he  is  in  the  pay 
of  Golitzine.     We  cannot  remove  him,  it  seems." 

Zouroff  took  up  the  running.  "I  did  my  best, 
you  know,  gentlemen;  but  he  escaped  me,  and  since 
then  Beilski  has  put  a  cordon  round  him  that  we 
cannot  break  through." 

"  And  yet  Beilski  is  a  fool,"  growled  the  bearded 

man. 

"I  know,"  answered  Zouroff.  "Beilski  is  what 
you  say,  but  he  has  got  Golitzine  at  his  back,  and  Gol- 
itzine has  the  intelligence  of  several  monkeys.  When 
Beilski  is  in  doubt,  he  goes  to  the  secretary." 

Another  man  spoke.  "  You  know  we  have  every 
confidence  in  you.  Prince ;  but  we  all  know  of  your 
attachment  to  La  Belle  Quero  —  by  the  way,  why  is 


THE  INTEIGUEliS  253 

she  not  here  to-night,  to  preside  over  our  festivities  ?  " 

Zourofi"  spoke  in  a  harsh,  strained  voice.  "  La 
Belle  Quero  is  ill,  confined  to  her  room.  You  have 
probably  not  heard  that  she  was  attacked  with  sudden 
indisposition  at  the  Opera  to-night,  and  that  her  un- 
derstudy had  to  take  her  place." 

None  of  the  men  had  been  at  the  Opera,  they  had 
not  heard.  One  or  two  indulged  in  expressions  of 
sympathy. 

The  bearded  man,  a  powerful  nobleman,  only  just 
second  to  Zouroff  himself  in  importance  and  length 
of  lineage,  continued  his  remarks. 

"  I  spoke  just  now  of  your  well-known  attachment 
to  La  Belle  Quero.  Is  it  possible,  Prince,  that  in 
an  unguarded  moment,  you  may  have  dropped  some 
hints  of  your  purpose  to  her  ?  I  did  not  wish,  for  a 
moment,  to  offend  your  amour  pro  pre,  but  rumour 
has  it  that  she  is  very  much  attracted  by  this  hand- 
some young  Italian.  It  is  strange  that  he  should 
have  escaped  you,  who  usually  lay  your  plans  so  well." 

Zouroff  paused  for  a  moment  before  he  replied. 
These  men  were  as  keen-witted  as  himself ;  it  was  im- 
possible to  deceive  them  for  long. 

"  Gentlemen,  I  will  be  quite  frank  with  you.  One 
is  always  a  fool  where  women  are  concerned.  In  a 
moment  of  ungoverned  temper,  I  did  hint  to  Madame 
Quero  something  that  might  have  set  her  wits  to 
work,  and  she  may  have  acted  upon  that." 

"  From  her  penchant  for  the  Italian  ?  "  suggested 
the  bearded  man,  who,  privately,  was  not  too  fond  of 
the  Prince,  and  always  indulged  in  a  pin-prick  when 
possible. 


254  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Zouroff  flushed  a  deep  red.  It  angered  him  deeply 
that  other  persons  should  know  Corsini  had  been  pre- 
ferred to  him. 

He  looked  round  the  assembly.  He  knew  that  the 
bearded  man  was  bidding  for  the  leadership  that  had 
been  willingly  accorded  to  himself.  If  his  position 
were  menaced,  he  must  recover  it  immediately,  and 
bv  a  bold  stroke. 

He  surveyed  the  small  knot  of  men,  his  bold  bear- 
ing and  resolute  demeanour  at  once  challenging  their 
allegiance,  and  compelling  it. 

''  Gentlemen,  I  blench  at  nothing  for  the  Cause  to 
which  we  are  all  devoted,  to  which  we  have  dedicated 
our  lives  and  fortunes.  On  that  occasion,  I  am  con- 
vinced that  La  Belle  Qucro  betrayed  me.  Well,  she 
will  never  betray  us  again.  Madame  La  Quero's 
hours  are  numbered.  That  is  why  she  has  not  ap- 
peared to-night." 

The  men  whom  he  addressed  were  as  hardened  and 
brutal  as  himself,  with  no  respect  for  the  sanctity  of 
human  life ;  but,  as  he  spoke,  a  slight  shudder  went 
through  the  assembly.  La  Belle  Quero  was  so  hand- 
some, so  popular;  it  seemed  a  thousand  pities  that 
she  should  be  done  to  death,  even  in  the  interests  of 

the  Cause. 

Zouroff  spoke  eagerly.  At  the  moment  he  felt  no 
remorse  for  having  compassed  the  death  of  his 
former  sweetheart  with  that  poisoned  chocolate. 
Had  she  not  insulted  him  by  daring  to  look  with  fav- 
ourable eyes  on  another  man  ? 

"  Gentlemen,  it  has  ever  been  one  of  our  fixed 


THE  INTRIGUERS  255 

rules  that  anybody  who  betrayed  us,  man  or  woman, 
it  matters  not  which,  should  pay  the  penalty  of 
death.  If  I  betrayed  you,  I  should  not  complain  if 
that  law  were  put  into  execution  against  myself.  La 
Belle  Quero  betrayed  us;  she  has  paid  the  penalty." 

Zouroff  was  logical.  The  sense  of  the  assembly 
was  with  him.  The  bearded  man  made  a  last  effort 
to  wrest  from  him  his  supremacy,  not  on  the  score 
of  disloyalty,  but  for  maladroitness  in  handling  their 
common  affairs. 

"  I  very  much  regret  that  Madame  Quero  should 
have  allowed  her  heart  to  govern  her  head.  She  was 
a  very  charming  woman,"  he  said  smoothly.  "  Do 
you  happen,  by  any  chance,  Prince,  to  have  enemies 
in  your  own  household  ?  " 

"  Why  do  you  ask  me  -that  question  ?  "  queried 
Zouroff  boldly. 

"  One  of  my  spies  told  me  that  Beilski  has  paid 
a  recent  visit  to  your  sister,  the  Princess  jSTada. 
Beilski  is  not  in  the  habit  of  paying  afternoon  calls. 
Does  the  young  Princess  know  anything  ?  " 

Zouroff  knew  nothing  of  the  visit  of  the  General ; 
it  was  news  to  him;  but  he  grasped  the  situation 
promptly. 

"  I  have  already  provided  against  that,  Count. 
Her  mother  is  in  bed ;  a  feverish  cold,  as  we  thought 
at  first,  has  developed  into  diphtheria.  I  believe  my 
sister  is  quite  innocent  of  any  serious  designs  against 
us,  but  it  is  always  as  well  to  be  on  the  safe  side." 

The  other  men  listened  with  the  closest  attention. 
After  all,  Zouroff  was  the  subtlest  of  them  all.     The 


256  THE  INTRIGUERS 

bearded  man  maintained  a  sullen  silence;  he  tad 
given  up  all  hope  of  rescuing  the  leadership  of  the 
party  from  the  resourceful  Prince. 

"  My  sister  I  shall  send  to  the  old  Castle  of  Tcher- 
noff  and  keep  her  there  as  long  as  it  suits  my  purpose. 
It  is  a  veritable  tomb,  far  away  in  the  Caucasus.  I 
have  arranged  that  she  starts  to-night.  Our  good 
Stepan  will  later  have  his  instructions.  As  he  is 
practically  deaf  and  almost  incapable  of  speech,  he 
can  tell  no  tales.     Besides,  he  is  devoted  to  me." 

Corsini,  close  up  against  the  curtains,  had  listened 
to  all  this  with  every  nerve  strained  and  his  brain 
working  at  high  pressure. 

He  had  learned  two  things  of  great  importance. 
ZourofF,  in  a  roundabout  way,  had  confessed  to  the 
murder  of  La  Belle  Quero.  Secondly,  the  Princess 
was  to  be  taken  that  night  to  this  gloomy  castle  in 
the  Caucasus.  And  he,  in  his  character  of  Stepan, 
the  man  who  could  not  hear  and  only  speak  with  the 
greatest  difficulty,  was  to  be  an  instrument  in  her 
abduction.  Here  was  food  for  thought.  Oh,  for 
five  minutes  with  that  man  of  subtle  brain  and  re- 
source, Golitzine !  At  such  a  moment,  even  the  in- 
ferior Beilski  would  have  been  welcome,  even  one  of 
the  four  men  waiting  outside!  How  could  he  save 
the  innocent  young  Princess  from  the  vile  schemes  of 
her  remorseless  brother  ?  A  few  minutes  could  alone 
decide  this  momentous  issue.  Why  had  she  not 
taken  his  advice,  proffered  a  few  hours  earlier  ? 

The  conspirators  talked  presently  in  lower  tones 
of  a  great  coup  to  be  brought  off  to-morrow  night  at 


THE  INTRIGUERS  257 

a  big  reception  at  the  Winter  Palace.  But  although 
they  spoke  almost  in  whispers,  as  if  fearful  of  the 
magnitude  of  the  stupendous  event,  Corsini  had 
sharp  ears  and  heard  quite  enough.  This  would  be 
great  news  for  Golitzine,  as  soon  as  he  could  see  him. 

The  conference  was  ended,  the  supper  partaken  of. 
No  servants  ever  assisted  at  these  simple  feasts.  An 
hour  after  the  meal  was  finished.  La  Belle  Quero, 
the  handsome  singer,  the  idol  of  more  than  one  cap- 
ital, had  passed  away  in  the  arms  of  her  faithful 
maid,  done  to  death  by  the  implacable  vengeance  of 
Zouroff. 

One  by  one  the  traitors  filed  out.  The  Prince 
came  last  and  made  signs  to  the  waiting  janitor,  sup- 
posed to  be  Stepan. 

"  You  will  come  with  me  to  the  Palace.  You  will 
convey  two  women,  my  sister  and  her  maid,  to  the 
Castle  of  Tchernoff,  in  the  Caucasus.  When  you 
have  deposited  them  safely  there,  return  to  the  Pal- 
ace, w^here  I  will  find  you  further  employment.  It 
is  very  likely  that  Madame  Quero  will  have  no  fur- 
ther need  of  your  services." 

Corsini  replied  in  appropriate  signs  that  he  com- 
prehended his  Excellency's  wishes. 

Together  they  drove  to  the  side  door  of  the  Palace, 
in  front  of  which  a  carriage  was  standing.  Two 
burly  men,  the  Prince's  chosen  confederates,  were 
beside  it.  Zouroff  motioned  to  Corsini  to  stay 
where  he  was. 

A  few  moments  later  the  forms  of  two  helpless 
women,  the  Princess  Nada  and  her  maid,  were  car- 


258  THE  INTEIGUERS 

ried  out  and  placed  in  the  carriage.  The  Prince  was 
well  served  in  his  household.  Evidently  both  had 
been  drugged. 

The  two  men  stood  waiting  for  the  sign  of  depar- 
ture from  the  Prince. 

And,  in  that  moment,  a  flash  of  inspiration  came 
to  Corsini. 

He  spread  out  his  arms  and  burst  into  a  chuckling 
sort  of  laugh,  like  one  demented.  He  sprang  on  the 
box,  seized  the  reins,  and  whipped  up  the  horses. 
He  was  well  out  of  sight  before  the  Prince  and  his 
two  ruffians  could  recover  from  their  consternation 
at  the  unexpected  turn  of  affairs. 

Had  Stepan  suddenly  gone  out  of  his  sense?  was 
the  Prince's  first  thought. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 

ZouEOFF  shook  his  fist  at  the  retreating  carriage. 
He  looked,  and  felt,  like  a  demon.  Why  had  this 
fool  taken  this  particular  moment  to  go  off  his  head  ? 
He  knew  that  Stepan  had  suffered  from  a  weak  intel- 
lect for  many  years,  but  he  was  not  prepared  for  this 
sudden  ebullition  of  insanity. 

"  We  cannot  catch  him  up,  your  Excellency,  he 
has  driven  like  the  wind,"  remarked  one  of  the  two 
burly  men  who  were  in  attendance  on  the  Prince. 

"  Let  him  drive  to  the  devil,"  snarled  Zouroff,  in 
his  most  vicious  tone.  He  was  really  trying  to  mask 
his  alarm  under  an  assumption  of  indifference. 
"  What  harm  can  the  idiot  do?  He  cannot  hear,  he 
can  only  make  guttural,  and  unintelligible  sounds 
when  he  attempts  to  speak." 

"  He  can  write,  your  Excellency.  Do  not  forget 
that.  Say  that  at  the  moment  he  has  gone  crazy. 
That  carriage  will  halt  somewhere  in  St.  Petersburg, 
or  the  environs,  the  police  will  be  on  the  spot,  inquir- 
ies will  be  made.  If  he  cannot  speak,  they  will  make 
him  write." 

But  Zouroff  by  now  had  recovered  his  incurable 

optimism.     "  He  will  recover  his  senses  shortly  and 

drive  back  to  the  Palace  for  instructions.     We  will 

wait  up  for  him." 

The  two  men  wero  not  quite  so  convinced,  although 

259 


260  THE  INTRIGUEES 

they  did  not  dare  openly  to  dispute  their  employer's 
opinion.  They  were  not  quite  sure  of  Stepan's  sud- 
den attack  of  insanity.  There  was  more  in  this  than 
met  the  eye. 

Corsini,  intensely  agitated  by  the  novelty  of  the 
unexpected  situation,  drove  recklessly  for  the  first 
few  moments,  anxious  to  put  as  much  space  as  possi- 
ble between  Zourofi  and  himself,  striving  to  collect 
his  thoughts. 

As  he  had  sat  silent  by  the  side  of  the  Prince  on 
their  progress  from  the  villa  to  the  Palace,  he  had 
thought  well  over  the  only  plan  of  campaign  that 
seemed  opru  to  him.  At  the  first  stopping-place  on 
that  long  journey  to  the  gloomy  Castle  of  Tchernoff, 
he  would  alight,  go  to  the  nearest  police  station  and 
divulge  the  facts  of  the  Princess's  abduction. 

Well,  fate  had  ruled  it  otherwise.  The  uncon- 
scious girl  and  her  maid  were  still  in  St.  Petersburg 
and  under  his  charge.  Whither  should  he  convey 
them?  But  he  must  be  quick.  Zouroff  was  a  man 
of  resource.  He  might  have  hired  a  passing  con- 
veyance and,  accompanied  by  his  two  burly  satellites, 
be  rapidly  on  his  track. 

And  then  the  thought  came  swiftly  to  him.  He 
would  turn  the  carriage  round  and  drive  by  devious 
ways  to  the  house  of  Golitzine.  Once  in  the  Count's 
care,  his  precious  charge  would  be  safe.  And,  if  he 
took  that  devious  route,  there  would  be  no  chance 
of  encountering  the  formidable  ZourofF  on  the  way. 

He  halted  at  the  door  of  the  Count's  house;  but 
here  an  unexpected  difiiculty  awaited  him.  He  dare 
not  leave  his  horses,  high-mettled  and  but  slightly 


THE  INTKIGUERS  261 

blown  by  their  short  gallop.  Ah,  there  was  a  con- 
venient lamp-post,  a  couple  of  feet  in  front  of  him. 
He  would  dismount  and  tie  his  reins  round  it  while 
he  knocked  at  the  door. 

While  he  was  engaged  in  this  task,  a  carriage 
drove  up  out  of  the  dark,  as  it  were,  and  halted  be- 
side the  other  one.  A  cold  sweat  broke  out  over  the 
young  man  as  he  observed  its  arrival.  This  devil 
of  a  Zouroff  had  been  too  quick  for  him. 

Then  his  countenance  cleared  as  he  recognised  the 
first  man  who  stepped  out.  It  was  the  leader  of  his 
faithful  bodyguard.  He  had,  in  the  excitement  of 
passing  events,  forgotten  them. 

"  You  have  lost  sight  of  us,  Signor,  but,  you  see, 
we  have  not  lost  sight  of  you,"  said  the  chief  of  the 
party.  "  We  followed  you  to  that  mean  street  where 
your  friend  lodged,  we  saw  you  come  out  transformed 
in  appearance,  we  followed  you  to  the  villa  of  Ma- 
dame Quero,  we  drove  behind  you  and  Prince  Zour- 
off to  the  Palace,  we  saw  what  happened  there,  and 
we  came  after  you  at  lightning  speed,  l^ow,  how 
can  we  help  you  ?  There  is  some  strange  work  going 
on,  that  is  easy  to  see.  This  is  the  house  of  Count 
Golitzine,  you  want  to  see  him.  But  I  expect  they 
are  all  gone  to  bed." 

"  Yes,  my  friend,  so  much  has  happened  in  the 
last  hour  or  two  that  I  had  forgotten  you,"  was  Cor- 
sini's  answer.  "  Tell  one  of  the  men  to  knock  at 
the  door  till  it  is  opened.  If  the  Count  has  gone  to 
bed,  he  must  get  up.  And  you  and  the  others  guard 
that  carriage  and  look  out  for  Prince  Zouroff." 

The  house  seemed  wrapped  in  darkness,  and  in 


262  THE  INTRIGUERS 

fact  everybody  had  retired  to  rest  except  the  ener- 
getic Count  himself.  Five  nights  out  of  six  he 
worked  into  the  morning  hours.  Tonight  he  had  a 
special  reason  for  sitting  up  late.  At  any  moment 
he  might  expect  a  visit  from  the  young  Italian,  to  re- 
port the  results  of  the  meeting  at  the  Villa  Quero. 

He  peered  into  the  darkness  and  his  astonished 
gaze  rested  on  more  than  he  expected  to  see.  He 
was  prepared  to  see  Corsini,  to  observe  the  bodyguard 
lurking  in  the  background ;  but  the  carriage  and  two 
impatient  horses  champing  at  their  bits  was  more 
than  he  had  bargained  for. 

"In  Heaven's  name,  what  is  this,  Corsini?'" 

Nello  advanced  and  whispered  in  his  ear.  "  I 
dare  say  these  men  suspect  as  much  as  I  know,  but 
for  the  present  we  need  not  assume  it.  Inside  that 
carriage  are  two  helpless  women,  drugged  by  that  ruf- 
fian Zouroff,  the  Princess  ISTada  and  her  maid.  I 
will  tell  you  all  the  details  of  the  adventure  later. 
Enou2:h  to  sav  that  I  have  been  able  to  rescue  them 
from  his  clutches  and  drive  them  to  your  house. 
You  will  not  refuse  them  shelter  ?  " 

"  Of  course  not,"  replied  the  Count  at  once. 
"  Bring  them  in  and  I  will  at  once  arouse  the  Count- 
ess. Drugged,  you  say!  Send  round  one  of  the 
fellows  for  the  nearest  doctor:  he  is  the  same  man 
who  succoured  you  at  Pavlovsk.  Stay,  I  will  give 
the  address  myself." 

The  two  helpless  forms  were  carried  in.  The 
Countess  Golitzine  was  aroused.  The  doctor  arrived. 
It  was  some  time  before  he  could  bring  them  round. 


THE  INTRIGUEES  263 

Zouroff  and  his  satellites  were  evidently  acquainted 
with  the  secret  of  a  very  powerful  narcotic.  He 
came  doAvn  at  length  to  the  Count  in  his  study, 
where  he  found  Corsini. 

"  Good-evening,  Signor.  Well,  Count,  I  have 
brought  them  back  to  consciousness,  have  prescribed 
a  little  light  food.  They  were  very  heavily 
drugged.  " 

He  turned  to  the  young  Italian.  "  It  carries  me 
back  to  that  night  at  the  little  inn  at  Pavlovsk,  but 
you  were  a  more  difficult  case.  Then  you  had  had 
more  than  one  dose.  These  young  women  have  had 
only  one.  I  should  say,  by  the  symptoms,  a  similar 
drug,  administered  by  the  same  hand." 

"  Right,  doctor ;  I  will  tell  you  all  in  good  time," 
said  Golitzine ;  "  but  perhaps  in  a  few  days  all  St. 
Petersburg  may  hear  of  it.  You  will  see  them  in 
the  morning  ?  " 

The  doctor  promised  to  call  early  the  next  day, 
but  he  assured  them  that  they  need  fear  no  anx- 
iety; both  young  women  had  vigorous  constitutions. 
He  was  too  discreet  to  mention  that  he  had  recog- 
nised one  of  them  as  the  Princess  jSFada.  He  had 
often  seen  her  at  the  Opera  and  driving  in  the  Nev- 
ski  Prospekt. 

And  Golitzine  was  a  man  to  appreciate  discretion ; 
he  could  do  much  for  this  young  doctor  if  he  chose ; 
therefore  he  would  keep  his  mouth  shut  till  it  was 
time  for  him  to  open  it.  Golitzine  saw  him  to  the 
door  and  laid  his  finger  impressively  upon  his  lip. 

"  Silence  for  the  present,  doctor,  as  to  all  these 


264  THE  INTRIGUERS 

strange  events  you  have  witnessed.  I  charge  myself 
with  your  future  advancement."  The  doctor  bowed 
and  went  his  way. 

Upstairs,  Xada  was  slowly  regaining  her  senses. 
She  looked  round  the  big,  handsomely-furnished 
chamber.  On  a  sofa,  a  little  away,  was  stretched 
the  form  of  Katerina,  recovering  more  slowly  than 
her  mistress. 

"  How  did  I  come  here  ?  Where  am  I  ? "  she 
murmured. 

The  Countess  Golitzine,  a  handsome  woman,  some 
twenty  years  younger  than  her  husband,  was  sitting 
by  the  bedside,  holding  the  Princess's  hand. 

She  whispered  in  a  kind  voice :  "  Do  not  speak 
much,  my  dear  l^ada,  you  are  too  tired ;  but  be  quite 
sure  you  are  amongst  friends.  Do  you  recognise 
me?" 

Memory  came  back  in  the  wake  of  that  long  stupor. 
"  The  Countess  Golitzine,  of  course ;  we  met  a  few 
days  ago.  But  why  am  I  in  your  house  and  not  at 
the  Palace  ?  " 

She  put  her  disengaged  hand  to  her  head  and  tried 
to  collect  her  scattered  thoughts.  "  Ah,  I  remember, 
my  brother  said  he  would  send  me  to  Tchernoff,  and 
I  did  not  believe  he  would  dare  to  carry  out  his 
threat" 

She  burst  into  bitter  weeping  as  the  subsequent 
events  forced  themselves  on  her  half-numbed  brain, 
her  seizure  by  two  burly  men,  a  handkerchief  pressed 
tightly  over  her  face.  Then  a  blank  till  she  woke  up 
here. 

She  was  clearer  now.     "  Yes,  I  can  recall  certain 


THE  INTRIGUERS  265 

things.  But  how  did  I  come  here?  How  was  I 
rescued  on  the  road  to  Tchernoff  ?  " 

"  My  dear,  I  do  not  know  myself.  I  had  gone  to 
bed  early;  my  husband  said  he  would  be  working 
into  the  morning,  as  is  often  his  custom.  I  was  in 
a  deep  sleep  when  he  woke  me  suddenly.  He  told 
me  that  you  and  your  maid  were  being  brought  in, 
that  you  were  drugged,  that  he  had  sent  for  a  doctor 
to  bring  you  round.  I  have  been  here  with  the  doc- 
tor till  you  came  back  to  consciousness.  Would  you 
like  to  see  the  Count  ?  " 

"  Indeed  I  would,"  cried  !N"ada,  whose  faculties 
were  quickly  coming  back  to  her.  "  I  cannot  calm 
myself  until  I  know  what  happened  between  my  leav- 
ing the  Palace  and  arriving  here.  And,  as  well  as 
thanking  you,  dear  Countess,  for  all  your  kindness 
to  me,  I  would  like  to  thank  your  husband  also.  It 
is  not  a  time  of  night  to  receive  uninvited,  or  unex- 
pected guests." 

Madame  Golitzine  went  down  to  her  husband's 
room  and  found  him  closeted  with  Corsini,  who  had 
given  him  a  full  account  of  the  proceedings  at  the 
Villa  Qucro,  of  his  driving  back  with  Zouroff  to  the 
Palace,  of  his  stratagem  in  jumping  on  the  box  and 
driving  off,  to  the  surprise  of  the  Prince  and  his  two 
burly  ruffians. 

The  Count  had  chuckled  at  the  end  of  the  narra- 
tive. Things  were  shaping  well  for  him,  to-morrow 
he  would  hear  his  Emperor's  hearty  cry  of  — "  Well 
done,  Golitzine.  I  knew  you  would  beat  them  in 
the  end." 

"  Corsini,  my  dear  fellow,  you  are  wasted  on  music. 


266  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Give  it  up,  and  I  will  get  you.  a  big  post  in  the  Secret 
Police." 

But  the  Italian  shook  his  head.  "  Many  thanks, 
Excellency,  but  I  do  not  really  love  this  excitement. 
Music  was  my  first  love,  it  will  be  my  last." 

The  Countess  came  in.  She  knew  Corsini  well, 
but  did  not  recognise  him  in  the  rough  clothes  of 
Stepan,  with  his  face  and  hands  stained. 

''  jN^ada  is  quite  conscious  and  her  faculties  are 
coming  back  rapidly,"  she  told  her  husband ;  "  but 
she  is  terribly  anxious  to  know  all  that  has  happened 
since  she  was  drugged.  She  wishes  to  see  you.  Of 
course,  I  can  tell  her  nothing,  as  I  have  not  had  time 
to  hear  anything  from  you." 

"  She  is  not  too  excited  ?  "  questioned  the  Count. 

"  Only  from  anxiety  to  know.  She  will  grow 
very  excited  if  she  is  kept  much  longer  in  sus- 
pense." 

The  Count  beckoned  to  Corsini.  "  Let  us  go  to 
her.     You  can  explain  better  than  I." 

But  Corsini  shrank  back  and  a  hot  blush  showed 
through  the  dark  stain  that  had  been  rubbed  on  his 
face  in  the  mean  lodging  of  Ivan  the  outlaw. 

"  I  cannot  present  myself  in  these  miserable 
clothes,  disguised  as  I  am,  to  the  Princess,"  he  stam- 
mered. 

The  Count  smiled  his  quiet  rather  cynical  smile. 
"  I  will  wager  she  will  penetrate  with  the  first  glance 
through  the  disguise  and  the  shabby  clothes." 

He  turned  to  his  wife.  "  My  dear,  permit  me  to 
re-introduce  to  you  Signor  Corsini,  the  Director  of 
the  Italian   Opera.     He   doesn't   cut   quite   such   a 


THE  INTRIGUEES  267 

brilliant  figure  as  usual,  but  his  excuse  is  that  he 
has  been  doing  some  very  good  work  for  the  Em- 
peror." 

The  Countess,  a  woman  of  charming  manners,  ad- 
vanced to  him  with  outstretched  hands.  "  A  thou- 
sand pardons.  Please  forgive  my  obtuseness,  but 
my  thoughts  were  so  occupied  with  our  poor  dear 
T^ada."  So  adroitly  did  she  redeem  a  somewhat 
awkward  situation. 

The  three  went  up  to  the  chamber  whither  the 
young  Princess  had  been  conveyed.  The  Count  went 
to  the  bed  and  shook  her  warmly  by  the  hand. 

"  My  wife  tells  me  you  are  recovering  from  the 
shock.  The  doctor  assures  me  you  will  be  yourself 
again  to-morrow.  I  am  only  too  pleased  that  my 
house  should  be  your  refuge.  Amd  you  want  to 
know  all  that  has  happened  since  your  rascally 
brother  had  you  drugged  and  thrust  into  that  car- 
riage." 

He  drew  forward  the  shrinking  man,  hovering 
shamefacedly  in  the  background. 

"  Here  is  your  preserver,  ISTada."  He  always 
called  her  by  her  Christian  name ;  he  had  known  her 
from  a  child.  "  You  see,  he  is  a  common  man, 
dressed  in  rough  clothes,  his  face  and  hands  proclaim- 
ing his  calling.  But  he  is  your  preserver,  and  you 
will  thank  him." 

He  spoke  with  that  half-humorous,  half-cynical 
smile  which  was  almost  characteristic. 

Corsini  nervously  advanced  to  the  bed  on  which 
the  Princess  was  lying  and  recovering  her  scattered 
senses. 


268  THE  INTRIGUERS 

"You  are  safe,  dear'  lady,"  he  said,  softly. 
"  Thank  Heaven  you  are  safe." 

She  recognised  the  voice.  She  penetrated  through 
the  veil  of  the  rough  clothes,  the  stained  face  and 
hands.     She  uttered  a  little  joyful  cry. 

"  Ala,  Signor  Corsini,  it  is  you  who  are  my  pre- 
server ?  " 

Corsini  bent  over  her.  "  It  has  been  my  turn. 
Princess.  You  saved  me  at  Pavlovsk,  I  have  paid 
back  my  debt  in  St.  Petersburg." 

The  Princess's  wondering  eyes  grew  bigger. 
"  But  tell  me  all  that  has  happened.  I  am  dying 
with  curiosity." 

Golitzine  touched  his  wife  on  the  shoulder.  "  We 
are  de  trop,  my  dear,  let  us  leave  the  young  people 
together." 

The  Countess  was  a  very  obedient  wife.  She  ac- 
companied her  husband  out  of  the  room;  but  when 
they  were  outside  she  whispered  to  him :  "  Alexis, 
is  it  wise?  Nada  is  a  girl  of  high  birth  but  of  ro- 
mantic notions.  Corsini  is,  no  doubt,  very  talented, 
but  is  it  prudent  to  leave  them  together  ?  " 

"  Listen  to  me ;  I  am  going  to  impart  to  you  a 
little  secret,"  said  the  Count  in  a  low  voice.  "  To- 
morrow the  house  of  Zouroff  will  be  humbled  in  the 
dust.  Our  pretty  little  Nada  can  then  well  choose 
where  her  heart  leads  her  to  make  her  choice,  even  if 
it  is  in  the  direction  of  our  young  friend,  Nello  Cor- 
sm. 

"  I  think  I  understand,"  said  the  Countess. 
In  the  big  chamber,  Katerina,   recovering  more 
slowly  than  her  mistress,  was  reclining  on  the  sofa. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  269 

A    tall,    white-capped    nurse    stood    in    the    corner. 

Nada,  of  course,  paid  no  heed  to  servants.  They 
were  a  part  of  her  being,  to  be  ignored  at  will.  Eor 
aU  practical  purposes  she  and  Corsini  were  alone. 

"  And  so  it  is  you  who  were  my  preserver,"  she 
said  softly ;  "  you  in  this  rough  garb,  with  your  face 
and  hands  stained  to  a  peasant's  hue.  There  must 
have  been  some  motive  behind  such  a  dangerous  ad- 
venture." 

Corsini  bent  over  her,  over  the  lily-white  face,  still 
looking  wan  after  her  terrible  experience. 

"  It  was  Providence  that  led  me  to  your  aid  to- 
night, Princess.  You  remember  my  urgent  advice 
to  leave  the  Palace  at  once." 

"  I  know  I  was  blind  and  foolish,"  murmured  the 
Princess.  "  I  could  not  believe  my  brother  capable 
of  such  cruelty." 

"  Your  brother  is  capable  of  anything,  of  every- 
thing," said  Corsini.  '*  Listen !  I  will  tell  you  all 
that  has  happened  to-night.  Please  understand  that 
Count  Golitzine  has  got  him  in  the  hollow  of  his 
hand." 

In  a  few  brief  words,  he  recounted  all  that  he  had 
overheard  at  the  villa  of  Madame  Quero,  ZourofTs 
confession  that  for  his  own  purposes  he  had  removed 
the  beautiful  singer. 

"  Tomorrow,  or  the  day  after,  he  will  be  on  his 
way  to  Siberia,"  concluded  Corsini,  with  a  pardon- 
able exultation.  "  He  doomed  me  to  death  because 
be  found  me  in  his  way;  he  has  murdered  his  old 
sweetheart  from  the  sheer  lust  of  revenge.  You,  out 
of  that  same  spirit  of  vengeance,  he  would  have  con- 


270  THE  INTRIGUEES 

demned  to  a  long  exile.  I  trust,  Ptincess,  you  will 
not  mourn  over  the  well-deserved  fate  of  such  a 
worthless  brother." 

"  No,"  she  said  in  a  resolute  voice,  "  I  will  not 
mourn  over  him.  His  outrage  on  me  quenches  the 
last  spark  of  affection  I  ever  entertained  for  him." 

The  conversation  was  concluded.  Corsini  rose, 
and  yet  he  still  lingered.  Something  alluring  in  the 
sweet  face  of  the  Princess  still  drew  him.  But  could 
he  dare?  There  was  a  softness  in  her  gaze,  some- 
thing inviting  in  her  demeanour. 

Youth  was  calling  to  youth.  Suddenly  he  leaned 
over  and  pressed  his  lips  on  hers.  They  were  met 
by  an  answering  pressure. 

"  I  love  you,  I  love  you,  oh,  I  cannot  tell  you  how 
much,"  he  murmured  brokenly.  "  I  have  loved  you 
ever  since  the  night  when  you  passed  me  in  Dean 
Street  and  wanted  to  throw  me  coppers  when  I  was 
playing  in  the  gutter,  and  your  imperious  brother 
forbade  you.  I  have  loved  you  ever  since  that  mo- 
ment." 

And  ISTada  murmured  softly,  "  I  love  you,  too. 
I  cannot  date  it  back  to  that  night.  I  think  it  was 
when  you  came  to  play  for  us  at  the  Embassy,  in 
London.  But  it  does  not  matter,  dear  Nello.  We 
have  both  saved  each  other." 

"Yes,  we  have  saved  each  other,"  was  Corsini's 
answer.  He  left  the  white-capped  nurse  in  the  cor- 
ner, the  still  tearful  Katerina.  What  did  he  reck 
of  these?  Had  not  his  beautiful  Princess  avowed 
her  love  with  that  warm  kiss  on  his  lips  ?  What  did 
anything  else  in  the  world  matter? 


THE  INTRIGUERS  271 

Golitzine  met  him  with  his  humorous  smile. 
"  Well,  I  have  no  doubt  you  have  made  good  use  of 
your  time  with  the  Princess.  Now  or  never  was 
your  opportunity.  To-morrow  morning,  in  the  Em- 
peror's cabinet,  at  the  Winter  Palace !  " 

Corsini  left  the  Count's  house.  He  certainly 
would  not  forget  that  appointment  to-morrow  morn- 
ing at  the  Winter  Palace. 

But  although  he  had  many  things  to  remember, 
his  most  vital  recollection  was  the  answering  kiss  of 
Nada. 


CHAPTER  XXIV 

ZouKOFF^  at  this  particular  moment,  was  not  in  a 
very  enviable  frame  of  mind.  Optimist  as  he  was, 
and  a  believer  in  his  own  star,  he  could  not  disgriiise 
from  himself  the  fact  that  his  two  efforts  at  kidnap- 
ping had  not  been  attended  with  any  remarkable  suc- 
cess. 

Corsini,  through  treachery  on  the  part  of  his  as- 
sociates, had  been  rescued  at  Pavlovsk.  And  last 
night,  the  deaf  and  inarticulate  Stepan,  suffering,  no 
doubt,  from  momentary  aberration,  had  driven  off  in 
the  darkness  with  the  young  Princess  and  her  maid 
—  whither,  he  knew  not. 

He  sat  up  till  the  small  hours  of  the  morning, 
awaiting  the  retura  of  that  carriage.  Stepan  would 
come  back  to  his  senses  and  drive  back  for  further 
instructions.  But  the  carriage  did  not  return.  At 
length  Zouroff  dismissed  his  two  confederates. 

"  Let  Stepan  return  when  he  will,  or  never  return, 
it  does  not  matter,"  he  said  impatiently.  What  did 
small  things  like  this  matter  ?  A  carriage  stranded, 
two  helpless  and  drugged  women  inside,  recognised 
later  on.  By  the  time  this  could  be  brought  home 
to  him,  he  would  be  in  such  a  position  that  he  could 
hush-up  all  inquiries. 

He  strolled  round  to  the  Villa  Quero.  The  serv- 
ant who  opened  the  door  knew  him  well,  of  course. 

272 


THE  INTEIGUERS  27a 

"  I  am  grieved  to  tell  you,  Excellency,  that  our 
dear  mistress  died  in  the  early  hours  of  the  morning." 

"  I  am  very  grieved  to  hear  it,"  said  the  hypo 
critical  Zouroff.  "  I  heard  that  she  was  taken  ill  at 
the  Opera  yesterday  evening.  It  was  sudden,  was  it 
not?" 

"  Very  sudden,  your  Excellency.  The  doctor 
seems  to  think  that  she  was  poisoned." 

"  Poisoned !  Good  Heavens !  "  cried  Zouroff. 
"  But  who  could  want  to  poison  such  a  charming 
woman,  so  generally  beloved  ?  " 

The  servant  shrugged  his  shoulders.  "  Ah,  who 
can  tell?  Perhaps  some  envious  rival.  The  post- 
mortem may  possibly  tell  us  something." 

The  Prince  walked  away  quite  easy  in  his  mind. 
Yes,  no  doubt,  the  post-mortem  would  tell  them  some- 
thing —  that  la  Quero  had  been  done  to  death  by  a 
very  subtle  poison.  But  he  had  reasoned  it  all  well 
out. 

It  would  be  proved  that  he  had  shared  a  light  re- 
past with  La  Belle  Quero  that  same  evening.  It 
might  be  proved  that  he  had  brought  her  a  box  of 
chocolates,  out  of  which  two  were  missing. 

They  could  analyse  that  box  of  chocolates.  They 
would  find  no  poison  in  them.  There  was  only 
poison  in  one,  the  one  that  he  had  picked  out  as  a 
fine  fat  fellow  and  which  she  had  crunched  greedily 
between  her  strong  white  teeth. 

That  same  morning  Stepan  woke  up  from  his. 
deep  stupor  in  the  mean  lodging  of  Ivan  the  Cuckoo. 

"  Where  am  I  ? "  was  his  first  question,  as  he 
opened  his  heavy  eyelids. 


274:  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Ivan  bent  over  him,  till  his  bearded  face  was  close 
to  that  of  the  dazed  man. 

"  You  are  with  your  old  friend  and  comrade. 
Last  night  I  took  the  liberty  of  playing  a  little  trick 
upon  you.  You  will  forgive  me  when  I  tell  you  the 
object  of  that  trick  was  to  ensnare  our  old  enemy, 
Zouroff." 

Stepan's  rather  expressionless  countenance  showed 
considerable  animation.  He  tried  to  speak,  but  the 
sounds  would  not  issue  from  the  paralysed  organs. 
He  had  recourse  to  his  usual  signs,  which  read  as 
follows : 

"  What  has  happened  at  the  Villa  Quero  ?  I  was 
not  there  at  the  meeting  last  night.  You  drugged 
me  to  keep  me  away.     Who  took  my  place  ?  " 

"  A  friend  of  mine  who  resembles  you  very 
closely,"  replied  the  late  outlaw,  who  was  not  greatly 
given  to  imparting  confidences.  "  I  expect  he  got 
some  important  information,  my  good  Stepan.  He 
can  hear  perfectly,  and  he  understands  both  French 
and  Russian." 

Stepan  rubbed  his  hands  gleefully  before  he  re- 
plied. "  Ah,  I  would  be  glad  to  hear  that  Zouroff 
was  trapped;  but  I  should  be  very  grieved  if  they 
caught  poor  Madame  Quero,  she  was  always  so  kind 
and  considerate.  Many  a  night  at  those  meetings  I 
was  kept  up  very  late.  She  would  always  come  to 
me  the  next  morning  with  her  bright  smile,  and  give 
me  a  handsome  pour^hoire." 

Ivan,  who  had  spies  all  over  the  city,  imparted 
the  latest  news.  "Madame  Quero  died  last  night, 
or  rather  in  the  early  hours  of  this  morning.     Zour- 


THE  li^TRIGUERS  275 

off  was  at  the  villa  during  the  evening,  a  short  time 
before  she  left  for  the  Opera.  There  are  rumours 
that  she  died  of  poison.  You  can  put  two  and  two 
together,  Stepan." 

Yes,  knowing  Zouroff  as  well  as  he  did,  the  deaf, 
and  almost  dumb,  man  could  guess  what  was  sug- 
gested by  Ivan.  He  raised  his  hands  to  Heaven  in 
horror,  and  then  made  rapid  signs.  "  This  infam- 
ous scoundrel  will  stop  at  nothing." 

Presently  he  grew  drowsy  again,  and  in  a  few 
moments  relapsed  into  a  second  deep  sleep  which 
lasted  over  a  couple  of  hours.  When  he  woke,  the 
outlaw,  who  was  growing  rather  alarmed  about  the 
prolonged  effects  of  the  narcotic,  was  bending  over 
him. 

Stepan  repeated  the  question  he  had  asked  on  his 
first  waking,  "  Where  am  I  ?  " 

Ivan  explained  to  him  again  that  in  consequence 
of  the  infirmities  which  so  handicapped  him,  he  was 
of  little  use  against  Zouroff  and  his  friends,  that  a 
man  who  closely  resembled  him  had  taken  his  place 
at  the  villa. 

Stepan,  who  now  seemed  thoroughly  awake,  inti- 
mated that  he  remembered. 

Ivan  proceeded,  in  his  strong,  resolute  tones,  "  I 
am  not  a  man  who  takes  any  chances,  as  you  well 
know.  However  well  you  lay  your  plans,  your  ulti- 
mate success  depends,  more  or  less,  on  the  support  of 
your  confederates.  That  is  why  I  took  the  liberty  of 
giving  you  a  little  harmless  sleeping  draught  that  ef- 
fectually kept  you  from  interfering  with  my  designs. 
You  are  none  the  worse  for  it,  and  very  shortly  you 


276  THE  INTRIGUEES 

shall  have  some  vodka  to  pull  yourself  together/' 
Stepan,  half-foolish  as  he  was,  understood  this  sort 
of  language  well.  The  mention  of  the  word  had  an 
almost  instantaneous  effect  in  completing  his  recov- 
ery. 

He  ruhbed  his  hands  together  and  smiled  his  silly 
and  vacant  smile.     "  And  how  goes  it  with  the  ruf- 
fian," Zour  off,  who  so  wronged  you,  my  poor  friend  ?  " 
"  Make  your  mind  easy,  my  dear  Stepan,"  was 
Ivan's  answer.     "  In  a  very  few  hours  we  shall  both 
be  avenged.     I  had  a  note  a  short  time  ago  from 
the  man  who  took  your  place  at  the  Villa  Quero." 
Ivan  was  the  soul  of  discretion  and  reticence.     Even 
to  so  intimate  a  comrade  as  Stepan  he  was  not  going 
to  reveal  the  name  of  Corsini.     "  He  suggested  that 
this  very  night,  Zouroff  and  his  rascally  band  will 
be  taken  into  the  toils.     I,  your  old  friend,  am  no 
longer  an  outlaw,  my  pardon  is  secured.     Eurther,  I 
shall  have  a  handsome  reward,  and  my  old  playmate, 
Stepan,  will  receive  his  share.  For  us,  comfort  in 
our  old  age ;  for  that  double-dyed  villain,  Siberia  and 
the  mines.     It  is  good  to  think  of,  Stepan,  is  it  not  ?  " 

The  half-witted  creature  emitted  low,  gurgling 
sounds  of  satisfaction.  Then  he  spoke  rapidly  on 
his  fingers. 

"  It  is  worth  living  for,  this  day,  Ivan.  Will  he 
ever  know  it  was  through  us  his  doom  was  brought 
about?  That  would  be  the  greatest  satisfaction  of 
all." 

The  pardoned  outlaw  smiled  grimly.  "  Trust  to 
me  for  that.     I  have  friends  everywhere.     I  will  get 


THE  INTEIGUERS  277 

that  information  conveyed  to  bim  somehow  by  some- 
body.    Yes,  that  will  make  bim  writhe." 

After  his  visit  to  the  Villa  Quero,  Zouroff  went 
back  to  the  Palace.  He  was  met  by  his  valet,  Peter, 
whose  looks  expressed  consternation.  The  news  he 
had  to  impart  to  his  master  was  very  grave.  Also 
be  was  uneasy  with  regard  to  his  own  skin.  He  had 
obtained  a  free  pardon  for  his  share  in  the  abduction 
of  Corsini ;  could  he  rely  upon  a  further  dispensation 
in  the  case  of  the  young  Princess  ? 

"  Excellency,  I  have  to  report  disaster.  One  of 
our  spies  has  ferreted  out  the  following  facts. 
Stepan  drove  the  carriage  by  a  roundabout  route  to 
the  house  of  Golitzine.  The  Princess  and  her  maid, 
my  sweetheart,  Katerina,  are  now  under  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Count.  I  fear  this  will  very  much  inter- 
fere with  your  Excellency's  plans." 

Zouroff  swore  roundly.  "  Then  this  Stepan  is 
another  traitor." 

"  It  would  appear  so,"  replied  Peter,  with  a  look 
of  disgust  well  simulated.  Fresh  from  his  confession 
to  Beilski,  it  was  necessary  that  he  should  reprobate 
all  fellow  traitors.  "  You  can  never  trust  these  half- 
witted chaps,"  he  added. 

Zouroff  thought  rapidly.  "  Eun  round  to  the 
villa,  Peter,  and  demand  to  see  Stepan.  You  can 
talk  to  him  by  signs.  Learn  what  has  become  of  the 
carriage.  Get  what  you  can  out  of  him.  By 
Heaven,  when  I  have  done  with  him  he  will  wish 
he  had  never  been  born."  His  expression  was  fe- 
rocious as  he  uttered  those  last  words. 


278  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Peter  hastened  to  obey  his  commands.  To- 
morrow, the  Prince  might  not  be  his  master,  but  he 
would  obey  him  as  long  as  he  was  in  his  service.  He 
returned  with  the  news  that  Stepan  was  not  at  the 
villa.  They  could  draw  their  own  conclusions  from 
his  absence. 

Zouroff  ground  his  teeth  savagely.  ''  Golitzine 
and  Beilski  have  got  him  safe  between  them.  Well, 
never  mind,  the  tables  will  be  turned  to-morrow." 

He  was  thinking  of  the  great  coup  which  was  to 
take  place  at  the  Winter  Palace  that  night,  the  great 
coup  which  had  been  so  carefully  rehearsed  by  him- 
self and  his  fellow  conspirators,  the  details  of  which 
had  been  overheard  by  Corsini,  in  the  character  of 
Stepan. 

Safe  in  the  custody  of  the  kind  and  amiable 
Countess,  ISTada  felt  strangely  happy.  True,  she  was 
very  anxious  about  her  mother,  and  some  natural 
compunction  assailed  her  as  to  the  fate  of  her 
brother,  in  spite  of  his  infamous  conduct  towards 
herself.  As  to  that  fate,  Corsini's  words  had  left 
her  in  no  doubt.  In  a  few  hours  the  arch-plotter 
and  assassin  would  be  on  his  way  to  Siberia.  The 
House  of  Zouroff,  so  far  as  its  titular  head  was  con- 
cerned, would  have  ceased  to  exist. 

But  she  was  very  happy  in  her  knowledge  of  her 
love  for  Corsini,  of  Corsini's  love  for  her.  The  name 
of  Zouroff  might  be  a  tainted  one,  but  the  Italian 
stood  high  in  the  estimation  of  the  Emperor  and 
his  powerful  Secretary.  Princess  as  she  was,  she 
would  not  stoop  so  greatly  in  becoming  the  wife  of  this 
favourite  of  fortune. 


THE  INTRIGUEKS  279 

Zouroff  spent  the  greater  part  of  his  day  in  calling 
at  the  houses  of  his  various  adherents.  The  knowl- 
edge that  Golitzine  was  now  acquainted  with  the 
dastardly  part  he  had  played  against  his  innocent 
sister,  spurred  him  to  extra  effort.  Optimist  as  he 
was,  he  had  an  uneasy  conviction  that  he  was  playing 
a  desperate  game.  Could  he  strike  before  Golitzine 
would  strike  ?  That  was  the  question,  and  it  was 
one  which  would  be  determined  in  the  coarse  of  a 
few  hours. 

He  brought  all  the  resources  of  his  mind  to  bear 
upon  this  important  problem.  He  employed  all  his 
eloquence,  he  exercised  all  the  influence  of  his  strong 
personality.  He  heartened  the  wavering  amongst  his 
fellow-conspirators,  he  urged  to  more  determined 
resolution  those  who  were  staunch  and  confident. 

But  he  felt  it  was  touch  and  go.  He  kept  away 
from  the  Palace  all  that  day,  sending  round  a  note 
to  Peter  to  bring  his  evening  clothes  to  a  secret  meet- 
ing-place. At  any  moment,  Golitzine  might  deter- 
mine to  strike,  and  he  might  find  Beilski's  emissaries 
waiting  for  him  at  his  ancestral  home. 

He  was  so  terribly  in  the  dark  as  to  what  Stepan 
had  revealed  or  been  forced  to  reveal.  Of  course,  he 
did  not  learn  till  much  later  that  it  was  not  Stepan. 
who  had  driven  away  on  the  box,  but  his  hated  rival, 
Corsini. 

And  why  had  Stepan  feigned  this  sudden  fit  of 
insanity,  a  man  who  had  always  appeared  so  devoted 
to  his  person  and  his  fortunes?  Stepan,  with  his 
incurable  deafness,  could  have  learned  nothing  at 
these  secret  conclaves,  he  would  have  no  information 


280  THE  INTRIGUEES 

to  sell  that  was  wortli  any  price.  And  yet  he  had 
driven  straight  to  Golitzine's  house.  "What  could 
have  been  his  motive?  There  was  something  here 
he  could  not  fathom. 

Wandering  in  this  maze  of  tangled  speculation, 
Zouroff  believed  he  had  hit  upon  the  right  solution 
of  these,  apparently,  inexplicable  proceedings. 

Stepan  was  devotedly  attached  to  all  the  members 
of  his  house  —  himself,  his  sister,  and  his  mother. 
When  he  had  seen  the  two  drugged  and  helpless 
women  carried  out  of  the  Palace,  he  had  recognised  the 
young  Princess  and  her  maid  as  they  were  put  into 
the  waiting  carriage. 

In  his  slow,  feeble  brain  he  had  realised  that  some 
danger  was  menacing  them.  His  loyalty  to  his  mas- 
ter had  experienced  a  sudden  revulsion.  Some  chiv- 
alrous instinct  in  him  had  urged  him  to  espouse  the 
€ause  of  the  weak  and  defenceless.  A  sudden  in- 
spiration had  come  to  him  by  which  he  could  secure 
his  object.  Before  they  could  stop  him,  he  had 
sprung  on  the  box  and  whipped  up  his  horses,  with  a 
view  of  placing  the  two  women  under  safe  protection. 

This  seemed  a  reasonable  explanation  of  that  sud- 
den and  unexpected  action.  But  there  was  always 
the  disturbing  thought  —  how  would  Golitzine,  hav- 
ing once  got  Stepan  into  his  clutches,  deal  with  him  ? 
He  would  force  him  to  write  some  account  of  the 
events  of  that  night,  even  if  he  could  not  make  him 
speak. 

And  then  a  comforting  thought  came  to  the 
Prince.  It  was  possible  that  Stepan  had  been  loyal 
to  both,  to  his  master  and  the  young  Princess.     He 


THE  INTRIGUEKS  281 

had  halted  the  carriage  at  the  Secretary's  door,  rung 
the  bell,  and  run  away  before  the  door  was  opened, 
leaving  the  astute  Count  to  unravel  for  himself  the 
mystery  of  the  two  drugged  women,  one  of  whom  he 
would  recognise  at  once. 

Still  there  was  not  much  comfort  in  that  thought, 
after  all.  Even  if  Stepan  had  not  betrayed  him, 
was  there  any  reasonable  hope  that  Nada  and  Kat- 
erina  would  keep  silence  for  a  moment,  after  they 
had  been  brought  back  to  consciousness  ? 

Ko,  it  was  touch  and  go.  He  must  strike  swiftly, 
before  Golitzine  could  get  in  his  blow.  And  the 
puzzling  thing  was,  why  had  Golitzine  not  already 
struck  ? 


CHAPTEK  XXV 

Five  men  were  seated  in  the  private  cabinet  of  the 
Czar  —  the  Emperor  himself,  his  diligent  and  faith- 
ful Secretary,  Golitzine,  General  Beilski,  the  Head 
of  the  Police,  General  Burovkin,  a  man  with  a  heavy 
mustache  and  cast-iron  countenance,  one  of  the  great 
military  chiefs  of  Russia,  devoted  like  the  others  to 
the  services  of  the  autocrat,  and  Nello  Corsini. 

Golitzine  explained  in  his  smooth,  passionless  ac- 
cents. He  was  a  man  who  was  never  excited,  never 
perturbed.  Except  that  he  was  of  lean  build,  he 
might  have  suggested  the  idea  of  a  relentless  spider, 
moving  amongst  a  web  of  his  own  weaving  to  catch 
the  unsuspecting  flies. 

He  had  been  the  first  to  speak.  "  Our  very  cap- 
able young  friend,  Corsini,  has  done  great  work.  He 
was  hidden  at  the  Villa  Quero  last  night  and  gath- 
ered information  of  the  greatest  importance." 

The  Emperor,  who  always  liked  to  tell  his  subor- 
dinates that  he  knew  all  that  was  going  on,  inter- 
rupted his  faithful  and  more  astute  Secretary. 

"  Ah,  poor  Madame  Quero !  I  hear  that  she  died 
in  the  early  hours  of  the  morning  and  that  there 
are  certain  suspicious  circimistances  connected  with 
her  death  —  an  idea  that  she  has  been  poisoned,  eh  ?  " 

Golitzine  nodded.  "  Your  Majesty  has  been  cor- 
rectly  informed."     He  might  have  added   that  he 

282 


THE  INTRIGUERS  283 

had  given  this  information  himself,  but  he  was  too 
experienced  a  courtier  to  venture  on  such  an  experi- 
ment. Autocratic  monarchs  like  to  think  they  dis- 
cover things  for  themselves.  And  perhaps  the  auto- 
crat had  not  been  quite  awake  when  he  received 
Golitzine's  letter  long  before  breakfast. 

Golitzine  waved  his  hand  towards  Corsini.  He 
possessed  a  very  generous  nature,  and  he  was  quite 
ready  to  give  honour  where  it  was  due. 

"  This  is  the  man  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the 
information  which  shall  be  fully  detailed  to  your 
Majesty.  Salmoros  never  did  us  a  better  service 
than  when  he  sent  Signer  Corsini  to  us." 

The  Emperor  inclined  his  head  in  his  most  gra- 
cious manner.  "  Salmoros  never  makes  a  mistake, 
and  Corsini  has  more  than  justified  his  selection." 

Golitzine  leaned  towards  the  young  Italian. 
"  Tell  his  Imperial  Majesty  all  that  you  told  me  last 
night,  the  full  details  of  what  happened  at  the  Villa 
Quero.  I  have  given  him  a  brief  resume ,  but  you 
can  make  it  more  convincing  than  I  can.  Speak  out, 
Corsini ;  omit  nothing ;  you  need  not  fear  to  trespass 
on  his  Majesty's  attention." 

The  Emperor  inclined  his  head.  He  always 
blindly  followed  the  lead  of  his  Secretary.  He  knew 
that  he  could  trust  him,  above  all ;  also  some  half  a 
dozen  others,  the  two  Generals  amongst  them. 

Corsini,  feeling  very  nervous,  although  by  now  he 
was  becoming  accustomed  to  his  new  environment, 
began  his  recital,  giving  full  details  of  the  strange 
things  that  had  happened  in  the  course  of  a  few 
hours.     Of  course,  he  was  intending  to  keep  strict 


2.84  THE  INTEIGUEES 

silence  as  to  that  little  love  scene  between  himself 
and  the  beautiful  Nada.  One  must  keep  back  cer- 
tain things  even  from  an  autocrat  of  Alexander's 
type. 

Being  very  nervous  in  the  presence  of  the  Emperor 
and  these  high  officials  of  the  Russian  Empire,  he 
told  his  story  very  haltingly.  Several  times  Golit- 
zine  helped  him  through  when  he  faltered. 

And  then,  when  he  was  not  a  quarter  through  his 
narrative,  there  came  a  hesitating  knock  at  the  door. 
It  was  that  of  a  timid  aide-de-camp,  who  had  taken 
upon  himself  to  disturb  his  Emperor's  privacy. 

At  the  first  sound  of  that  timid  knock,  the  Emperor 
frowned.  His  orders  had  been  precise:  he  was  not 
to  be  disturbed,  except  on  a  matter  of  greatest  ur- 
gency.    Perhaps  this  was  one. 

"  Come  in,"  cried  the  autocrat,  in  a  far  from  con- 
ciliatory voice. 

The  young  man,  dressed  in  immaculate  uniform, 
advanced,  bowing  very  low.     He  tendered  a  letter. 

"  A  thousand  pardons  for  disturbing  your  Majesty 
after  your  particular  instructions.  The  Baron  Sal- 
moros,  whom  I  know  well,  has  just  arrived.  I  told 
him  you  were  engaged  in  important  discussions  with 
the  biggest  personages  in  the  Empire.  He  persisted 
that  I  should  bring  his  note  to  you.  I  disobeyed 
your  instructions,  but,  under  the  circumstances,  I 
trust  you  will  think  that  I  have  not  done  wrong,  that 
I  have  exercised  my  discretion  wisely.  The  Baron 
said  it  was  urgent,  that,  whoever  you  were  engaged 
with,  you  must  be  disturbed.  I  know  how  highly 
the  Baron  stands  in  your  Majesty's  favour." 


THE  INTRIGUERS  285 

Alexander  opened  the  letter  with  a  frowning  brow. 
True  autocrat,  he  was  incensed  that  his  slightest  in- 
structions should  have  been  disobeyed.  But,  as  he 
read  the  letter  of  the  Baron,  his  brow  cleared. 

He  turned  a  mild  look  upon  the  disturbed  young 
officer.  "  You  have  acted  very  wisely  indeed.  I 
shall  hold  you  in  my  remembrance.  Bring  the  Baron 
to  us  at  once." 

He  turned  to  the  four  other  men.  "  Gentlemen, 
our  good  friend,  Salmoros,  has  taken  a  journey  to  us 
because  he  has  certain  information  to  impart.  I  rec- 
ognise very  gratefully  that  I  am  well  served,  but  I 
think  we  may  well  admit  the  Baron's  brains  to  our 
important  conclave."  He  looked  towards  Golitzine 
as  he  spoke. 

The  adroit  Secretary  inclined  his  head.  "  I  think 
your  Majesty  can  well  admit  the  Baron  to  our  coun- 
sels.    We  can  always  learn  something  from  him." 

A  few  moments  later  the  venerable  figure  of  Sal- 
moros appeared  in  the  doorway  of  the  private  cabinet 
of  the  Emperor,  ushered  in  by  the  no  longer  fearful 
young  officer. 

He  advanced  and  kissed  the  Emperor's  hand. 
Alexander,  as  a  mark  of  his  esteem  for  the  areat 
financier,  had  risen  to  greet  him.  The  Baron  shook 
hands  with  Golitzine  and  the  two  Generals.  Then 
he  laid  his  hand  lightly  on  Corsini's  shoulder. 

"  Ah,  my  young  friend  and  protege,  I  see  you 
have  done  well.  If  you  had  failed,  you  would  not 
be  in  the  private  cabinet  of  the  Emperor  to-day." 

The  autocrat  interposed.  "  My  dear  Baron,  your 
young  friend  has  been  of  the  most  inestimable  service 


286  THE  mXRIGUERS 

to  MS.     You  were  always  a  great  jvidge  of  men." 

The  next  to  speak  was  Golitzine.  "My  dear  Sal- 
moros,  I  know  full  well  that  it  is  your  zeal  for  the 
Emperor  and  the  great  Empire  over  which  he  rules 
that  has  led  you  to  take  this  long  and  tedious  journey. 
You  have  something  of  importance  to  communicate." 

Salmoros  spoke  in  his  slow,  grave  accents.  He 
looked  at  the  Emperor  as  he  spoke,  but  he  was  really 
addressing  Golitzine.  He  knew  that  in  that  re- 
markable  man,  apart  from  mere  figureheads,  lay  the 
destinies  of  the  great  Eussian  Empire. 

He  was  not  oblivious  to  the  fact  that  the  two  Gen- 
erals were  persons  to  be  reckoned  with ;  as  a  matter  of 
fact,  he  was  counting  on  their  practical  assistance ;  but 
Golitzine,  the  man  of  brains,  the  man  of  initiative, 
the  true  statesman,  was  his  sheet-anchor. 

Alexander  was,  of  course,  the  mere  titular  head 
of  the  state,  served  by  his  subordinates,  more  or  less 
well. 

If  Golitzine  went,  and  some  inferior  person  took 
on  his  office,  then  Alexander  would  be  very  badly 
served.  He  was  not  a  monarch  who  could  reign  by 
himself. 

The  Baron  bent  his  deep,  penetrating  gaze  upon 
the  assembly  of  notable  persons  —  the  Emperor, 
the  two  Generals,  the  Secretary,  the  modest  and 
rather  shrinking  young  Italian,  somewhat  embar- 
rassed by  his  recent  projection  into  matters  of  high 
statecraft. 

Certain  things  at  once  struck  his  observant  eyes. 
All  except  the  Emperor  were  dressed  in  immaculate 
costume.     The   autocrat   himself  was   attired   in   a 


THE  rNTRIGUERS  287 

loose  dressing-gown.  He  had  had  no  time  to  array 
himself  in  conventional  garments. 

As  a  matter  of  fact,  Golitzine's  letter  had  reached 
him  shortly  before  dawn,  requesting  his  presence  at 
the  private  counsel  which  was  now  taking  place. 
Alexander,  no  doubt  relying  on  the  efforts  of  his 
faithful  servants,  had  indulged  in  a  little  extra  slum- 
ber, confident  that  he  would  be  well  looked  after. 

Salmoros  reflected,  with  a  certain  contempt,  upon 
the  obvious  inferences  which  were  to  be  drawn  from 
these  very  apparent  facts. 

He  looked  at  Golitzine,  that  astute  Secretary,  who 
kept  his  master  in  order,  spurred  him  when  he  was 
too  sluggish,  restrained  him  when  he  was  too  impet- 
uous. 

Cynical  thoughts  shaped  themselves  in  his  active 
brain,  and  if  translated  into  speech,  they  might  have 
expressed  themselves  thus :  "  Why  do  we  men  of  in- 
telligence and  initiative  give  our  best,  the  keenest  of 
our  brains,  to  these  mere  figureheads  whom  we  flat- 
ter, but  at  heart  despise  for  their  feebleness?  It  is 
because  we  find  the  figurehead  binds  us  more  closely 
together,  makes  our  own  position  more  secure,  while 
we  are  propping  up  his." 

He  answered  Golitzine's  question,  with  his  slow, 
grave  smile. 

"  A  man  of  my  age,  Count,  would  not  travel  so 
many  miles,  at  great  personal  inconvenience,  without 
some  very  strong  motive.  I  warned  you  some  time 
ago  of  a  slowly  maturing  conspiracy  against  the  per- 
son of  his  Majesty."  He  inclined  his  leonine  head 
in  the  direction  of  the  autocrat,  the  figurehead,  who 


288  THE  INTRIGUERS 

smiled  back  graciously  in  intimation  that  he  fully 
appreciated  the  Baron's  services. 

"  I  have,  as  you  know,  considerable  resources  at  my 
command,  but  these  people  are  very  cunning.  It  is 
only  quite  lately  that  I  have  secured  definite  infor- 
mation as  to  day  and  date.  As  soon  as  I  received 
that  information,  I  cast  all  other  considerations  to 
the  winds.  I  came  to  St.  Petersburg  as  fast  as 
special  trains  would  bring  me.  Of  course,  I  had 
no  knowledge  of  what  you  were  doing  here,  and  one 
cannot  express  oneself  very  fully  in  telegrams." 

Golitzine  gave  him  a  glance  which  said  as  plainly 
as  the  language  of  the  eyes  could  speak,  "  We  are 
both  men  of  the  highest  intelligence.  Let  us  disre- 
gard the  figureheads  and  the  instruments  and  address 
ourselves  to  each  other.  The  others  can  follow  us 
at  their  leisure." 

Aloud  he  said,  "  Well,  Baron,  you  have  been  well 
served,  but  we,  in  St.  Petersburg,  have  not  been  idle. 
When  do  you  say  that  Zouroff  and  his  fellow  conspir- 
ators will  strike  ?  " 

"  Within  the  next  three  days.  That  is  my  in- 
formation, derived,  of  course,  from  a  traitor,  who 
has  received  a  substantial  reward,"  was  the  answer 
of  Salmoros.  He  thought,  rather  regretfully,  that 
there  were  few  secrets  of  this  unhappy  country,  which 
could  not  be  purchased  for  a  liberal  pa^Tnent  of  gold. 
He  was  not  even  sure  to  what  extent  the  most  trusted 
adherents  of  the  Emperor  might  not  be  bribed,  al- 
ways excepting  Golitzine. 

The  Emperor  broke  in,  in  his  rather  awkward  way, 
to  prove  that  he  was  always  master  in  his  own  house. 


TnE  INTRIGUERS  289 

"  You  liave  done  more  than  well,  Baron,  and  you 
have  now,  as  before  and  ever,  our  undying  gratitude. 
But  —  he  pointed  a  finger  towards  the  young  Direc- 
tor of  the  Imperial  Opera — "  this  gentleman  is  just 
a  little  bit  in  front  of  you.  You  say  within  three 
days.  Signor  Corsini  will  tell  you  that  the  great 
coup  of  Zouroff  and  his  friends  is  planned  for  to-night 
at  the  Winter  Palace.  Speak,  Signer,  and  tell  the 
Baron  something  of  what  you  have  already  told  us." 

Golitzine's  heavy  brows  expressed  displeasure. 
After  his  long  journey,  doubly  trying  to  a  man  of  his 
age,  Saknoros  need  not  have  his  own  protege  flung  in 
his  face  as  it  were.  The  situation  could  have  been 
dealt  with  in  a  more  diplomatic  manner. 

But  Salmoros,  man  of  the  world  and  philosopher 
as  he  was,  did  not  indicate  by  a  flickering  of  the  eye- 
lid that  he  took  the  slightest  notice  of  these  small  pin- 
pricks, delivered  by  a  maladroit,  but  not  hostile  hand. 

He  looked  kindly  at  the  young  man.     "  Please  re- 
peat what  you  have  already  told  to  this  illustrious, 
assembly.     If  the  pupil  has  beaten  his  master,  it  will 
be  proof  to  me  that  my  judgment  of  men  seldom 
fails." 

He  paused  and  bowed  profoundly  to  the  Emperor, 
who  was  just  beginning  to  entertain  an  uneasy  idea 
that  he  might  have  employed  more  diplomatic  lan- 
guage. 

"  I  am  an  old  man,  Sire,  and  perhaps  my  brain 
does  not  work  quite  so  rapidly  as  it  used.  But  you 
will  kindly  remember  that  I  have  several  important 
interests  at  stake,  besides  watching  over  the  destinies 
of  Empires  in  a  state  of  disturbance,  such  as  seems 


290  THE  INTEIGUERS 

afflicting  your  kingdom  at  the  present  moment  For 
many  years,  as  you  know,  I  have  lived  in  free  and 
prosperous  England.  We  don't  have  any  of  those 
troubles  in  that  well-governed  and  tranquil  country." 
The  Emperor  reddened  under  the  mild  rebuke,  de- 
livered in  the  most  passionless  tones.  Golitzine  has- 
tened to  pour  oil  on  the  troubled  waters.  The  two 
Generals,  men  of  action,  of  no  subtlety  of  thought, 
had  not  noticed  that  the  waters  were  troubled  at  all. 

The  Count  addressed  himself  directly  to  Corsini. 

"  You  were  only  embarking  upon  your  narrative 
which  the  fortunate  advent  of  the  Baron  cut  short 
for  a  few  moments.  Will  you  kindly  proceed  ?  Our 
good  friend  will  then  realise  how  you  have  been  aided 
by  a  most  fortunate  conjunction  of  circimistances." 

Nello  proceeded  with  his  narrative,  but  of  course, 
he  had  to  repeat  portions  of  it,  to  bring  Salmoros  into 
line  with  the  others. 

He  finished  up  with  the  pregnant  words :  "  The 
attempt  is  to  be  made  to-night  at  the  Winter  Palace 
at  the  big  reception,  the  hal-rtiasque.''^  He  turned  to 
the  Emperor.  "  Your  Majesty  is  to  be  assassinated 
by  one  of  the  eight  chief  conspirators." 

Corsini  had  now  come  to  a  part  of  his  narrative 
which  he  had  not  yet  disclosed  before  the  arrival  of 
Salmoros. 

"  His  name  ?  "  demanded  the  Emperor,  with  flash- 
ing eyes. 

"  I  grieve  very  much  that  T  cannot  give  that  in- 
formation. It  was  not  settled  last  night  at  the  meet- 
ing. I  understood  they  would  draw  lots  for  it 
to-dav." 


THE  INTRIGUERS  291 

The  Emperor  subsided.  For  the  moment  he  could 
not  vent  his  vengeance  on  any  particular  person. 

Corsiui  proceeded.  "  At  the  hal-nuhsque ,  your 
Majesty  is  to  wear  a  pale-blue  domino.*' 

"  Quite  true,"  answered  the  autocrat.  "  That  is 
the  costume  I  have  chosen." 

"  These  men  are  acquainted  with  every  detail  of 
the  reception,  and  they  have  a  hundred  spies  and  ad- 
herents." 

"  I  see,"  said  the  Emperor.  "  It  is  well  known 
we  are  giving  a  big  reception  to-night,  to  which  even 
this  traitor  Zouroff  himself  is  invited.  Truly,  the 
conspirators  have  chosen  a  very  convenient  occasion." 

After  these  words  the  Czar  of  all  the  Russias  leant 
his  head  upon  his  hand,  apparently  engrossed  in  deep 
thought. 

Golitzine  looked  at  Salmoros,  the  Baron  flashed 
back  an  answering  glance.  The  same  thought  had 
occurred  to  both.  Had  the  Emperor's  brain,  never  of 
a  very  dominating  quality,  suddenly  given  way  under 
the  tragic  possibilities  of  to-night? 

The  two  Generals,  admirable  machines,  but  who 
were  pretty  well  incapable  of  moving  on  their  own 
volition,  kept  imperturbable  faces. 

Golitzine  at  last  ventured  to  touch  the  shoulder  of 
his  Imperial  Master.  Even  a  favourite  Secretary 
paused  before  taking  liberties  with  an  autocrat,  so 
long  as  he  was  in  hid  right  mind.  But  Gt)litzine  was 
beginning  to  doubt  if  he  was,  and  Salmoros  enter- 
tained the  same  suspicion. 

"  There  is  no  time  to  be  lost,  Sire.  They  are  going 
to  strike  to-night.     We  must  be  prepared  to  counter 


292  THE  INTEIGUEES 

their    blow.     What    does    your   Majesty   suggest  ? " 
The  Emperor  smiled  calmly.     It  was  evident  that 
he  had  not  gone  out  of  his  mind,  as  they  had  at  first 
feared. 

He  spoke  in  measured  accents.  "  I  have  been 
thinking  very  deeply,  my  good  old  friend  Golitzine. 
One  of  the  band  is  going  to  assassinate  me  to-night. 
Well,  you  leave  that  part  of  the  problem  to  me." 

Golitzine  recoiled  in  consternation.  "  It  is  my 
duty  and  that  of  my  colleagues  " —  he  pointed  to  the 
two  inarticulate  Generals — "  to  guard  the  sacred  per- 
son of  your  Majesty.  With  all  respect,  Sire,  I  can- 
not leave  that  task  to  yourself." 

He  turned  to  the  Baron.  "  I  think,  Salmoros,  yon 
will  agree  with  me  ?  "  he  asked. 

Salmoros  spoke  in  very  decided  tones.  "  In  a 
question  of  this  importance,  your  Majesty  must  con- 
sent to  take  the  advice  of  your  faithful  friends  and 
legal  supporters."  He  had  no  very  great  opinion  of 
the  Emperor's  ability  or  capacity  to  deal  with  difficult 
circumstances. 

The  Emperor's  smile  was  more  pronounced  than 
before,  as  he  tapped  Golitzine  on  the  shoulder  and 
extended  a  hand  to  the  venerable  Salmoros. 

He  drew  them  aside,  and  spoke  in  a  confidential 
whisper. 

"  My  dear  friends,  I  appreciate  to  the  full  your 
anxiety  about  me,  and  I  shall  want  your  whole- 
hearted assistance,  which,  I  know,  will  be  given  un- 
grudgingly to  me.  With  regard  to  this  little  matter 
of  assassination,  some  ideas  have  come  to  me.  Let 
me  work  them  out  my  own  way,  if  you  please." 


THE  INTEIGUERS  293 

Both  men  bowed  in  assent.  There  was  no  more  to 
be  said.  When  an  autocrat  has  delivered  his  fiat, 
argument  on  the  part  of  even  his  most  trusted  serv- 
ants is  useless. 

"  May  your  Majesty  never  live  to  regret  your  de- 
cision," murmured  the  faithful  Golitzine,  in  a  low 
whisper. 

The  Emperor  again  gave  him  a  reassuring  pres- 
sure on  the  shoulder. 

"  My  excellent  Golitzine,  and  you,  my  good  Sal- 
moros,  you  can  safely  leave  this  part  of  it  to  me.  I 
have  in  my  mind  a  little  tragedy  that  shall  later  turn 
into  comedy.  To-night,  at  the  Winter  Palace,  you 
will  appreciate  an  Emperor's  stratagem.  You  shall 
also  witness,  later  on,  an  Emperor's  vengeance." 

lie  paused,  then  extended  a  hand  to  each  and  spoke 
in  the  same  whispering  tones.  "  You,  Golitzine  and 
Salmoros,  will  confer  with  the  two  Generals.  They 
have  not  the  brains  of  either  of  you,  but  they  are 
good  machines.  You  will  take  measures  to  have  the 
soldiery  and  police  well  posted  in  order  to  combat 
the  revolution  engineered  by  that  villain,  Zouroff,  and 
his  friends.  Corsini,  I  daresay,  has  still  a  few  more 
details  to  impart  which  will  be  useful.  Eor  the  pres- 
ent, au  revoir." 

Golitzine,  after  his  Imperial  Master's  departure, 
spoke  to  Salmoros. 

"  What  do  you  think  of  it  all,  Baron  ?  Is  he  sure 
of  himself?  Has  he  got  an  idea,  of  which  he  is 
so  proud  that  he  will  not  communicate  it  even  to 
us?" 

Salmoros  shook  his  white  wise  head  slowly  to  and 


294  THE  INTEIGUEES 

fro  while  lie  spoke  with  his  gentle,  slightly  ironical 
smile. 

"  My  dear  Golitzine,  who  can  prophesy  ?  Wis- 
dom, we  know,  sometimes  proceeds  out  of  the  mouths 
of  babes  and  sucklings.  Perhaps  it  may,  in  occa- 
sional moments,  emanate  from  the  brains  of  Kings  and 
Emperors.  In  the  meantime,  you  will  take  all  nec- 
essary precautions.  It  would  not  be  wise  to  trust 
too  much  to  the  Emperor's  inspiration,  whatever  it 
may  be." 


CHAPTER  XXVI 

CoESiNi  quitted  the  cabinet  shortly  after  the  de- 
parture of  the  Emperor.  Alexander,  full  of  his 
great  idea,  and  it  was  proved  later  on  that  it  was  a 
very  excellent  and  ingenious  one,  felt  that  he  could 
leave  all  further  details  to  the  astute  Golitzine,  Sal- 
moros,  and  the  two  Generals. 

After  the  Czar  had  left,  Golitzine  had  questioned 
the  Italian  closely  as  to  certain  items  of  the  informa- 
tion which  he  had  gathered  at  the  villa  the  night  be- 
fore. Being  satisfied  as  to  these,  he  had  intimated, 
of  course  in  the  most  polite  and  diplomatic  manner, 
that  .Corsini's  presence  was  no  longer  required.  He 
was  now  going  into  certain  practical  matters  with  the 
two  Generals,  with  regard  to  the  disposition  of  the 
soldiery  and  police,  of  a  strictly  technical  nature 
which  would  have  no  interest  to  a  civilian. 

Corsini  took  the  hint  at  once.  He  had  already 
learned  that  high  politics  meant  strict  business. 
These  two  great  men  would  put  up  with  your  com- 
pany, just  so  long  as  you  were  useful  to  them.  As 
soon  as  you  had  fulfilled  your  part,  you  were  dis- 
missed, in  order  that  they  might  turn  to  somebody 
else  of  equal  importance. 

But  Golitzine,  in  spite  of  his  lean  and  rather  sat- 
urnine aspect,  was  a  kind-hearted  old*  fellow.  He 
shook  the  young  man  warmly  by  the  hand  and  whim- 
pered in  his  ear: 

"  Please  do  not  accuse  me  of  scant  courtesy,  if  I 

296 


296  THE  INTRIGUERS 

seem  to  hurry  you  away,  but  the  time  is  all  too  short 
for  what  I  have  to  plan  and  arrange.  Be  assured 
that,  so  far  as  the  Emperor  is  concerned,  your  for- 
tune is  made.  I  cannot  take  upon  myself  to  predict 
the  precise  nature  of  your  reward,  but  it  will  be  a 
very  substantial  one.  And  of  course  your  friend 
Ivan  and  his  associate  will  be  remembered,  too." 

Corsini  bowed  gratefully.  He  already  knew 
enough  of  Courts  to  assume  that  Golitzine  himself 
would  determine  the  nature  and  extent  of  those  re- 
wards. The  Emperor  would  only  speak  with  the 
voice  of  his  Secretary,  although  as  a  matter  of  eti- 
quette, he  must  always  be  regarded  as  the  fountain 
of  honour. 

Golitzine  went  on  in  a  still  lower  tone.  "  You 
have  more  time  on  vour  hands  than  we  hard-working 
servants  of  the  State  have.  We  shall  not  meet  again 
till  to-night  at  the  hal-masque.  You  might  use  a  few 
of  your  leisure  moments  in  strolling  round  to  my 
house  and  cheering  up  the  Princess  Nada.  I  pre- 
pared my  wife  for  a  possible  visit.  I  am  certain  you 
will  not  be  denied  admittance." 

Corsini  was  very  young,  too  young  to  have  got  over 
the  youthful  habit  of  blushing.  A  deep  red  settled 
on  his  countenance  as  he  realised  the  nature  and  in- 
tention of  the  kindly  Count's  suggestion. 

Golitzine  peered  at  him  amiably  through  his  spec- 
tacles, He  liked  that  ingenuous  blush :  it  betokened 
sincerity.  Here  was  no  callous  young  adventurer, 
simply  a  youth  of  integrity  and  good  principles, 
quick-witted  enough  to  take  advantage  of  his  oppor- 
tunities. 


THE  INTRIGUERS  29Y 

"  You  are  a  favourite  of  fortune,  my  dear  fellow, 
but  you  have  had  the  good  sense  to  see  when  she 
smiled  on  you.  Strike  while  the  iron  is  hot.  Every 
right-thinking  young  woman  is  grateful  to  her  pre- 
server, especially  when  he  is  so  good  to  look  at  as 
you  are.  You  don't  want  me  to  give  you  any  further 
hint." 

Corsini,  more  embarrassed  than  ever,  murmured  a 
reply  that  was  almost  inarticulate,  but  one  expressing 
gratitude  for  his  Excellency's  suggestions.  He  made 
his  adieux  hastily,  anxious  to  be  out  of  the  chamber 
where  these  experienced  men  seemed  to  read  his  very 
soul. 

Salmoros  detained  him  a  second.  "  N'ot  quite  so 
quick,  my  young  friend.  You  will  dine  with  me  to- 
morrow night  at  my  hotel ;  here  is  the  address."  He 
added  with  a  humorous  smile,  "  That  is  to  say,  if 
this  devil  of  a  ZourofP  leaves  any  of  us  alive." 

Corsini  left  the  Winter  Palace.  He  saw  the  fig- 
ures of  his  faithful  bodyguard  hovering  in  the  dis- 
tance, pledged  to  watch  after  his  safety,  to  protect 
him  from  the  evil  designs  of  his  relentless  enemy,  that 
traitor  Prince  whom  he  had  outwitted. 

He  bent  his  steps  in  the  direction  of  Golitzine's 
house.  He  was  anxious  to  see  the  Princess  again, 
but  perhaps,  had  he  not  been  spurred  by  tlie  Count's 
hints,  he  might  not  have  dared  to  intrude  upon  her 
so  soon. 

The  kiss  of  last  night,  when  their  lips  had  met  for 
the  first  time!  She  had  kissed  him  warmly  then, 
in  the  exaltation  of  grateful  feelings  for  her  rescue 
from  her  ruffianly  brother. 


298  THE  INTRIGUERS 

That  was  last  night  Would  the  morning  bring 
reflection,  prudence  ?  Would  she  remember  the  dif- 
ference between  their  stations  —  recollect  that  she 
was  a  Princess  of  the  highest  lineage,  he  an  artist,  a 
genius,  but  a  man  of  no  birth  or  connections  ? 

As  he  walked  slowly  along,  his  thoughts  travelled 
back  to  the  time  when  he  had  been  in  such  despair 
that  he  had  come  one  night  to  the  conclusion  life  was 
no  longer  worth  living.  He  remembered  he  had  put 
that  question  to  his  devoted  little  sister,  Anita,  and 
she  had  answered  bravely  that  she  would  leave  the 
decision  to  him. 

And  by  one  turn,  as  it  seemed,  of  fortune's  wheel, 
all  this  was  changed.  He  had  in  his  pocket  a  letter 
received  from  Anita  that  morning,  written  from  the 
house  of  the  kind  ladies  in  whose  charge  the  Baron 
Salmoros  had  placed  her  when  he  despatched  her 
brother  on  his  mission  to  Russia. 

A  young  Englishman  had  fallen  in  love  with 
Anita;  she  had  fallen  in  love  with  him.  He  had 
excellent  prospect-s.  One  of  the  two  benevolent  ladies 
had  enclosed  a  brief  note,  speaking  in  the  highest 
terms  of  the  young  lover,  who  was  also  a  protege  of 
the  benevolent  Salmoros.  Anita  had  promised  to 
become  his  wife,  subject  to  her  brother's  consent. 

How  far  away  it  all  seemed,  that  snowy  night  in 
Dean  Street,  when  he  had  played  in  the  gutter  to  earn 
a  few  coppers  for  food  and  lodging.  Dear  old  Papa 
Peron,  with  his  big  heart,  the  genial  Degraux,  the 
powerful  and  astute  Salmoros,  who  picked  out  intel- 
ligent instruments  for  his  deeply  laid  schemes !  All 
these  figures  were  present  to  him  as  he  strolled  along. 


THE  II^JTRIGUERS  299 

So  Anita  was  in  love  and  would  shortly  be  a  liappy 
wife.  Well,  if  she  made  half  as  good  a  wife  as  a 
sister,  her  husband  would  be  a  fortunate  man.  He 
would  ask  a  few  details  of  Salmoros  when  he  dined 
with  him  to-morrow  night  about  this  young  suitor, 
but  he  had  no  doubt  he  would  write  Anita  a  warm 
letter  of  congratulation. 

And  for  himself !  Last  night,  the  beautiful  ISTada, 
whom  he  had  regarded  as  a  star  set  high  up  in  the 
firmament  above  him,  had  returned  his  kiss.  Al- 
ready he  occupied  an  important  post  in  the  musical 
world.  This  morning,  Golitzine  had  hinted  at  sub- 
stantial rewards  for  his  secret  and  important  ser- 
vices. The  Count  had  spoken  of  him  as  one  of 
fortune's  favourties.  The  description  did  not  seem  to 
be  misplaced. 

His  heart  beat  more  confidently  as  he  approached 
the  Count's  house.  After  all,  he  was  not  so  unworthy 
as  he  had  once  imagined  himself  to  be.  Nada  was 
one  of  a  long  line.  He  was  going  to  be  the  first  of 
his  —  virile,  ambitious,  with  the  restless  impulses  of 
new  blood.  Was  the  difference  between  them  so 
great  after  all  ? 

He  met  the  Counteas  in  the  hall.  Full  of  the 
prejudices  of  her  caste,  she  did  not  perhaps  wholly 
approve  of  the  visit ;  but  she  was  a  very  obedient  wife, 
and  Golitzine,  as  it  has  been  explained,  had  given  her 
a  hint  that  if  Corsini  called  he  was  to  be  admitted  at 
once  to  the  presence  of  the  young  Princess. 

Nada  was  reclining  in  an  easy-chair,  looking  a 
little  wan.  To  her  enraptured  lover,  her  slight  pal- 
lor only  added  spirituality  to  her  beauty. 


300  THE  INTRIGUERS 

He  felt  lie  must  proceed  very  cautiously.  She 
might  wish  to  ignore  that  episode  of  the  previous 
night,  for  which  the  strange  circumstances  could  fur- 
nish a  reasonable  excuse. 

He  bowed  low  over  her  hand  and  raised  it  respect- 
fully to  his  lips.  "  I  am  so  pleased,  Princess,"  he 
began  in  rather  hesitating  tones,  "  to  see  that  you 
are  very  little  the  worse  for  last  night's  adventure." 

A  faint  colour  suffused  her  cheeks;  she  withdrew 
her  hand  with  a  little  pettish  gesture.  It  was  evident 
that  she  did  not  wish  to  ignore  the  incident  of  last 
night. 

"  Why  are  you  so  formal  ?  I  am  not  a  Princess 
to  you,  but  simply  Nada,  an  unhappy  girl  whom  you. 
rescued  and  brought  here  at  night,  and  whom  you 
said  you  loved.     Have  you  forgotten  all  this  ?  " 

"  ISTo,  I  have  not  forgotten,"  was  the  fervent  an- 
swer, "  but  I  was  not  sure  you  might  wish  to  remem- 
ber. Last  night,  the  circumstances  were  very  un- 
usual. Feelings  of  gratitude  might  have  led  you  far- 
ther — " 

He  paused,  for  the  very  good  reason  that  li^ada  had 
placed  her  hand  upon  his  lips. 

"  Do  you  know,  you  are  talking  very  foolishly, 
Nello.  But  no,  it  is  not  altogether  foolish.  I  can 
guess  all  that  there  is  in  your  mind.  You  are  such 
a  perfect  gentleman,  so  chivalrous  where  a  woman 
is  concerned.  But  you  need  doubt  no  longer.  When 
I  allowed  you  to  kiss  me  last  night  and  kissed  you 
back,  I  gave  you  my  heart  once  and  for  all  time." 

He  bent  over  her  and  kissed  this  time,  not  her 
hand,  but  her  lips. 


THE  IXTEIGUERS  301 

"  And  you  will  marry  me,  you  will  be  my  wife  ?  " 
he  asked  in  a  voice  that  still  expressed  hesitation. 

"  Of  course,"  answered  the  Princess,  with  a  pretty 
assumption  of  indignation.  "  Do  you  think  I  would 
suffer  any  man  to  kiss  me  unless  I  were  sure  he  were 
going  to  be  my  husband  ?  " 

As  he  walked  back  to  his  hotel  Corsini  felt  as  if  he 
were  treading  on  air.  How  thankful  he  was  to  the 
kindly  old  Count  for  that  hint,  to  strike  while  the 
iron  was  hot.  Left  to  himself,  he  might  have  lost 
her  for  want  of  boldness.  And  now,  N'ada  had 
promised  to  be  his  wife.  Very  shortly  he  and  his 
dear  little  sister  would  both  be  happily  married. 

Later  in  the  day,  when  the  Emperor's  private  cab- 
inet had  been  cleared  of  his  official  counsellors,  Alex- 
ander held  an  important  conversation  with  a  man  as 
strong  and  stalwart  as  himself,  closely  resembling  him 
in  height  and  build.  This  man  was  an  illegitimate 
son  of  one  of  the  Romanoffs,  and  had  ever  devoted 
himself  to  his  Majesty's  person  and  given  a  hundred 
proofs  of  his  loyalty. 

"  Listen,  my  faithful  Sergius,"  said  the  autocrat, 
as  he  motioned  him  to  a  seat.  "  I  have  something  to 
tell  you  that  will  startle  you.  You  know  that  to-night 
we  hold  a  bal-masque  at  the  Winter  Palace.  You 
will  be  there." 

The  man  Sergius  nodded.  On  these  more  or  less 
ceremonious  occasions  he  was  never  far  from  his 
master's  side.  He  had  no  subtlety  of  intellect,  he  had 
little  sense  of  diplomacy.  It  was  impossible  to  ad- 
vance him  verv  far,  to  make  him  into  even  the  scm- 


302  THE  INTEIGUERS 

blance  of  a  statesman,  but  he  worshipped  his  Emperor 
and  relative  with  a  canine  fidelity.  He  was  a  mag- 
nificent watch-dog  and  would  lay  down  his  life  for 
his  master. 

"'  There  is  a  plot  on  foot,  engineered  by  Prince 
Zouroff  and  others,  to  assassinate  me  to-night  in  the 
ball-room  of  the  Winter  Palace." 

Sergius  recoiled  in  horror.  "  But  where  are  your 
guards,  your  police?  What  are  Golitzine,  Beilski, 
and  Burovkin  doing  ?  "  he  cried  in  amazement.  He 
started  from  his  chair,  ever  a  man  of  action.  "  Let 
me  go  round  to  the  Zouroff  Palace  at  once,  get  hold 
of  this  ruffian  and  choke  the  life  out  of  him.  You 
can  then  punish  me  for  a  brief  space  and  then  give 
me  a  free  pardon  —  extenuating  circumstances,  or 
something  of  that  sort." 

Alexander  smiled  kindly.  Sergius,  the  man  of 
proved  loyalty,  spoke,  as  usual,  from  his  full  heart. 
But,  as  ever,  he  lacked  discretion. 

"  A  most  excellent  idea,  my  good  old  friend  and 
cousin,  but  in  this  century  we  cannot  proceed  on 
strictlv  mediaeval  lines.  Besides,  we  want  to  take 
them,  so  to  speak,  red-handed.  Golitzine  is  working 
admirably.  So  are  Burovkin  and  Beilski ;  they  will 
see  to  the  soldiers  and  the  police.  They  wanted  to 
arrange  my  part  in  the  affair  —  I  know  what  they 
would  have  proposed,  that  I  should  absent  myself  — 
I  determined  to  take  the  matter  in  hand  personally. 
If  I  am  not  there,  and  they  already  know  how  I  pur- 
pose to  be  dressed,  they  will  not  carry  out  their  plot ; 
they  will  postpone  it,  and  we  shall  still  be  hanging 
on  the  tenterhooks  of  susnense,  wondering  when  the 


THE  INTIUGUERS  303 

blow  will  fall.  Let  it  fall  tonight,  as  they  have 
planned,  and  let  them  be  taken  red-handed.  That  is 
mj  policy." 

Sergius  stared  at  his  master  with  a  puzzled  ex- 
pression. His  slow  brain  could  not  follow  the  Emper- 
or's explanation.  Certainly,  it  would  be  very  easy 
for  him  to  go  round  to  the  Zouroff  Palace  and  strangle 
its  master;  half  a  dozen  others,  if  necessary.  This 
was  surely  the  most  certain  way  to  his  soldier-like  and 
practical  mind. 

"  Sergius,  my  good  friend,  this  affair  wants  a  little 
diplomacy,  which  you  and  I  will  cany  out  between 
us.  I  shall  acquaint  Golitzine  and  the  others  with 
it,  say,  an  hour  before  the  reception  begins.  They 
think  they  have  the  monopoly  of  brains,  that  their 
Emperor  must  always  think  the  thoughts  they  put 
into  his  head,  always  speak  tlie  words  they  prepare 
for  him.  Well,  I  am  going  to  show  them  that  some- 
times I  can  act  upon  my  own  initiative.  I  have 
prepared  a  little  stratagem,  in  which  I  invite  your 
co-operation.     I  will  explain  it  to  you." 

He  unfolded  his  scheme  to  the  puzzled  and  inter- 
ested Sergius.  The  blunt  soldier  rose  up  when  the 
Emperor  had  finished,  and  smiled  delightedly. 

"  Excellent,  most  excellent,  Sire.  You  can  rely 
upon  me;  you  may  be  sure  I  shall  not  fail  to  play 
my  part." 

At  midnight  the  vast  saloons  of  the  "Winter  Palace 
were  thronged  with  a  happy,  joyous  crowd.  Zouroff 
was  there,  in  a  disguise  that  he  thought  nobody  could 
penetrate.  The  other  seven  leaders  were  there  also, 
safe  as  they  thought  from  recognition. 


304  THE  INTRIGUEKS 

Corsini  was  there,  having  come  on  from  the  Opera. 
And  the  young  Princess  had  come  also,  with  the 
Countess  Golitzine.  At  first  she  had  protested.  She 
wished  to  see  the  Emperor  triumph,  as  she  was  as- 
sured he  would;  but  the  Emperor's  triumph  would 
mean  the  ruin  of  her  brother.  Basely  as  he  had 
treated  her,  she  was  reluctant  to  assist  at  the  spectacle 
of  his  degradation. 

But  curiosity  prevailed,  the  natural  curiosity  of 
being  in  at  the  finish  of  things.  And  besides,  the 
Countess  had  told  her  that  she  would  give  to  Corsini 
a  description  of  her  costume,  and  obtain  from  him 
one  of  his,  so  that  they  could  easily  recognise  each 
other.     In  the  end,  she  went. 

The  commanding  figure  of  the  Emperor,  clothed 
in  his  mask  and  blue  domino,  moved  about  amongst 
his  guests.  There  was  no  mistaking  that  Imperial 
presence.  One  man,  in  particular,  was  watching  in- 
tently, following  every  motion. 

Corsini  had  at  last  found  out  his  sweetheart.  They 
were  conversing  together  in  low  whispers,  when  sud- 
denly there  rose  from  a  hundred  throats  the  shout  of 
— "  Treason  !  Treason  !  " 

They  turned  their  startled  gaze  towards  the  end  of 
the  room,  in  time  to  see  the  Emperor's  huge  form 
sink  slowly  to  the  floor.  A  small  man  darted  from 
his  side,  buried  himself  amid  the  crowd  and  made 
hastily  towards  the  nearest  door,  concealing  in  his 
garments  the  dagger  with  which  he  had  inflicted  the 
blow. 

He  found  the  door  guarded  by  three  stalwart  men, 


THE  INTRIGUEES  305 

who  seized  him  at  once  and  forbade  egress.  They 
were  members  of  Beilski's  police. 

At  the  same  instant  the  General  himself  tore  off 
his  mask,  and  cried  out  in  stentorian  tones,  "  Unmask, 
everybody.  The  doors  are  guarded.  None  can  pass 
through  till  we  are  satisfied  of  their  innocence.  We 
know  the  names  of  all  the  traitors.  At  yonder  door 
my  men  have  got  the  assassin." 

Slowly  they  all  unmasked,  Zouroff  amongst  the 
rest.  He  knew  now  that  he  had  been  foiled  by  some- 
body, that  his  ambitions  were  quenched  for  ever. 
Siberia  and  the  mines  for  him,  as  the  lightest  penalty. 

To  do  him  justice,  he  took  his  fate  stoically.  He 
folded  his  arms  across  his  breast  and  cast  a  disdain- 
ful glance  in  the  direction  of  the  panic-stricken  crowd. 

Beilski,  who  had  been  standing  close  to  that  tall, 
commanding  figure,  went  and  touched  him  lightly  on 
the  shoulder. 

"  Get  up,  Sergius,"  he  whispered.  "  The  first  act 
of  the  tragedy  is  over." 

The  apparently  inanimate  man  rose  slowly  to  his 
feet,  threw  off  his  mask  and  domino,  disclosing  a  suit 
of  chain  mail  beneath,  which  the  dagger  of  the  assas- 
sin had  been  unable  to  penetrate. 

And  then  a  great  shout  of  loyalty  burst  forth  from 
the  assembly,  as  they  recognised  the  situation.  The 
Emperor  had  never  been  at  the  reception  at  all.  This 
faithful  left-handed  relative  of  his,  who  so  closely 
resembled  his  Imperial  ]\Iaster,  had  taken  his  place. 

And  then  a  side  door  opened  and  the  Czar,  in  or- 
dinary attire,  came  through  and  made  his  way  to  the 


306  THE  INTRIGUERS 

top  of  the  room.  He  was  escorted  by  a  strong  body- 
guard. It  was  just  on  the  cards  that  one  of  these 
desperate  men  might  make  a  second  attempt,  out  of 
pure  revenge. 

But  there  was  no  fear  of  this.  Beilski's  men  had 
got  all  of  the  eight  leading  conspirators  and  several 
accomplices  safely  in  their  clutches. 

It  must  be  said  for  the  Emperor  that,  on  occasions 
like  these,  he  could  always  assume  the  grand  manner. 

In  a  few  well-chosen  sentences  he  dismissed  the 
assembly,  with  many  regrets  that  their  pleasure  had 
been  so  abruptly  terminated.  There  were  matters 
of  great  import  to  be  attended  to,  matters  which 
would  not  brook  delay. 

ISTada  broke  awav  from  the  Countess  and  rushed 
over  to  her  brother.  In  spite  of  his  cruel  treatment 
of  her,  her  heart  at  that  moment  bled  for  him. 

"  Oh,  Boris,  I  know  it  is  good-bye  for  ever.  Why 
did  you  not  listen  to  me  when  I  pleaded  with  you  to 
give  up  your  dangerous  schemes  ?  " 

But  Zouroff  hardly  listened  to  her.  He  was  think- 
ing of  that  snowy,  never-ending  road  to  Siberia,  along 
which  he  would  trudge  in  chains,  guarded  by  the  mer- 
ciless Cossacks. 

"  Don't  worry  me,"  he  said  in  a  dull  voice.  "  All 
is  finished.     What  is  the  use  of  looking  back  ?  " 

After  the  assembly  had  dispersed  the  Emperor  re- 
tired to  his  private  cabinet.  He  intimated  that,  for 
the  moment,  he  only  wished  to  see  Golitzine  and  Cor- 
sini.     The  others  he  would  interview  later. 

Immediately  the  door  was  closed  he  turned  to  the 
young  Italian. 


THE  INTEIGUERS  307 

"  Signer  Corsini,  I  have  said  before  in  your  pres- 
ence that  the  house  of  Komanotf  is  not  ungrateful. 
I  have  great  pleasure  in  bestowing  upon  you  the 
title  of  Count ;  there  will  also  be  paid  to  you  a  con- 
siderable sum  which  you  can  invest  at  your  discretion. 
The  directorship  of  the  Imperial  Opera,  if  you  wish 
to  retain  it,  can  be  yours  for  life.  With  regard  to 
your  friend,  Ivan,  our  promises  have  been  already 
given.     Golitzine  will  see  to  this." 

Corsini  expressed  his  thanks  in  becoming  language, 
and  was  about  to  withdraw,  when  the  Count  detained 
him. 

"  One  moment,  Corsini ;  I  shall  take  upon  myself 
to  disclose  to  his  Majesty  a  little  idyll  that  has  lately 
been  going  on  in  St.  Petersburg  —  one  which  the 
Countess  has  confided  to  me.  The  Princess  ISTada 
has  promised  to  be  our  young  friend's  wife." 

The  Emperor  smiled  graciously  and  extended  his 
hand  cordially. 

"  Congratulations,  Signor.  Nada  will  make  a 
good  and  faithful  wife.  She  takes  after  her  mother ; 
the  father  and  son  were  both  ruffians." 


CHAPTER  XXVII 

The  night  after  these  thrilling  events,  Corsini 
went  to  dine  with  Salmoros  at  his  hotel. 

The  great  financier  always  travelled  in  royal  state 
on  important  occasions.  He  lodged  himself  in  the 
same  fashion.  At  the  present  moment  he  was  occu- 
pying one  of  the  most  expensive  suites  in  the  hotel. 
Two  secretaries  and  a  valet  formed  his  retinue.  He 
had  journeyed  all  the  way  by  special  trains. 

Well,  in  a  way  he  was  a  monarch  himself  —  one 
of  the  half-dozen  undisputed  kings  of  finance,  who 
are  the  power  behind  titular  potentates  and  taken  into 
their  counsels  before  they  resolve  upon  decided  action. 

There  was  no  other  guest.  Salmoros  wished  to 
talk  to  this  young  man  alone,  l^othing  appealed  to 
the  Baron  like  success.  He  was  prepared  to  admit 
that  luck  was  a  frequent  element  in  success,  and  Cor- 
sini had  undoubtedly  been  lucky.  A  chance  meeting 
with  a  discredited  outlaw  —  so  much  he  had  gathered 
from  Golitzine  in  a  brief  conversation  to-day  —  had 
put  the  young  Italian  on  the  right  track.  All  the 
same,  luck  had  a  knack  of  presenting  itself  to  people 
born  to  achieve  greatness.  It  presented  itself  to 
everybody,  but  the  stupid  people  were  too  blind  to  see 
and  take  advantage  of  it. 

He  remembered  a  word  of  warning  that  his  old 

friend  and  patron,  that  far-seeing  statesman  Lord 

Beaconsfield,  had  once  addressed  to  him.     "Never 

308 


THE  INTRIGUEES  309 

associate  yourself  with  unlucky  people,  my  dear  Sal- 
moros."  He  had  faithfully  regarded  that  warning 
during  his  strenuous  years  of  commercial  and  busi- 
ness intrigue. 

The  Baron  had  jestingly  said  yesterday  that  they 
would  meet  to-night  if  that  devil  of  a  Zouroff  left 
anybody  alive.  Well,  they  were  all  alive,  and  the 
traitor  Prince  would  soon  be  eating  his  heart  out  in 
Siberia.  And  yet  it  had  been  touch  and  go.  It  had 
been  a  thrilling  day,  and  an  ordinary  man  might 
have  felt  his  nerves  a  little  shaken  when  the  strain, 
was  over. 

But  Salmoros  was  as  calm  as  if  the  destinies  of  the 
Russian  Empire,  in  which  he  took  so  keen  an  interest, 
had  never  hung  for  a  moment  in  the  balance.  Per- 
haps he  had  experienced  and  survived  too  many  catas- 
trophes to  feel  very  great  emotion  at  another  triumph, 
the  last  of  a  hundred  or  more. 

Corsini,  on  his  side,  with  the  jangling  nerves  of 
youth,  was  very  palpably  agitated.  His  smile  was 
forced,  his  face  was  twitching.  He  could  not  dis- 
miss from  his  mind  these  great  events  that  had  so 
suddenly  crowded  into  his  life. 

Xada,  that  peerless  divinity  whom  he  had  adored 
from  afar  when  there  seemed  no  hope,  who  had  sud- 
denly descended,  as  it  were,  to  earth  and  had  prom- 
ised to  be  his  wife!  Here  was  one  intoxicating 
thought. 

And  then,  last  night  the  Emperor  had  called  him 
into  his  private  cabinet,  invested  him  with  the  title 
of  Count  of  the  Russian  Empire  and  promised  him 
an  even  more  substantial  reward. 


310  THE  INTRIGUEES 

And  yet  he  was  the  same  man  who,  a  short  time 
ago,  had  been  playing  in  the  streets  for  coppers  which 
his  half-starved  sister  collected.  But  for  the  provi- 
dential interference  of  dear  old  Papa  Peron  he 
might  have  been  playing  there  still,  or  sought  refuge 
in  an  untimely  grave.  Simply  a  turn  of  fortune's 
wheel. 

Salmoros  noted  his  agitation,  and  for  a  long  time, 
did  not  press  him  with  any  very  direct  conversation. 
He  talked  of  music,  of  which  he  was  a  great  connois- 
seur, and  presently  he  found  that  this  subject  drew 
the  young  man  out  of  his  perturbed  thoughts. 

By  the  time  the  meal  was  finished,  Corsini  was 
almost  his  normal  self.  The  animated  discussions 
over  different  composers,  in  which  each  disputant  de- 
fended his  opinions  warmly,  had  driven  for  a  time 
into  the  background  the  personal  events  of  the  last 
few  days. 

"We  shall  never  agree  about  Russia,"  remarked 
the  Baron  at  the  end  of  this  artistic  conference. 
"  JSTow,  we  have  had  quite  a  long  argument  and  the 
subject  is  very  absorbing  to  both  of  us.  Let  us  talk 
of  something  a  little  nearer  home.  The  Signor  Cor- 
sini I  sent  out  to  Russia  in  the  nature  of  a  speculation 
is  now  Count  Corsini,  a  member  of  the  nobility  of 
the  Russian  Empire.  Have  you  reflected  over  these 
facts  and  to  what  extent  they  are  going  to  influence 
your  future  ?  " 

Nello  answered  candidly.  "  For  the  last  few  days, 
Baron,  I  seem  to  have  been  living  in  a  world  of 
dreams.  I  never  sought  adventure,  but  through 
you  —  no,  I  must  not  forget  dear  old  Papa  Peron, 


THE  IXTRIGUEKS  311 

he  was  the  origin  of  all  this  —  adventure  has  come 
to  me." 

At  the  mention  of  Peron's  name,  Salmoros  lifted 
his  glass  and  spoke  in  a  voice  of  emotion. 

"  To  the  memory  of  my  dear  old  friend  and  com- 
rade, who  had  a  heart  of  gold.  Ah,  why  did  he 
choose  to  die  in  that  miserable  garret,  when  he  knew 
I  was  so  near  ?     What  misplaced  pride  !  " 

"  He  had  the  artistic  temperament,  Baron,  but  he 
was  never  a  man  of  the  world.  He  would  give,  but 
he  blushed  to  take,"  was  Nello's  answer,  "  Well, 
you  have  asked  me  for  my  ideas  as  to  the  future. 
Candidly,  I  have  not  yet  formulated  any,  except  as 
regards  in  one  direction.  For  one  thing  I  would 
prefer  not  to  remain  in  Eussia." 

The  Baron  smiled  his  quiet  and  comprehending 
smile.  "  There  I  think  I  am  with  you.  A  charming 
place  for  a  brief  visit,  but  for  a  prolonged  residence, 
certainly  not." 

Corsini  went  on.  "  I  love  England  and  its  free 
ways.  Here  there  is  too  much  intrigue.  I  propose, 
when  certain  things  are  settled,  to  return  to  England. 
The  Emperor  has  kindly  said  that  if  I  wish  it  the 
directorship  of  the  Imperial  Opera  is  mine  for  life. 
It  is  a  fine  post  and  I  fully  appreciate  the  compliment. 
But " 

Salmoros  interrupted  him,  "  I  quite  understand. 
You  would  sooner  play  your  violin  at  the  Floral  Hall 
in  London  than  conduct  the  Imperial  Opera  in  this 
city  of  St.  Petersburg,  honeycombed  with  spies, 
traitors,  and  actual  or  potential  assassins  ?  " 

Nello  nodded.     It  was  very  easy  to  explain  to  this 


312  THE  INTRIGUEES 

wonderful  old  man,  who  seemed  to  know  what  you 
were  going  to  say  before  the  words  were  formed. 

"  Now  confide  in  me,"  said  the  Baron  in  his  most 
confidential  tones.  "  You  dropped  a  rather  signif- 
icant phrase  just  now.  You  said  you  had  not  yet 
formulated  your  ideas,  except  in  one  particular  direc- 
tion.    Will  you  tell  me,  or  can  I  guess  it  ?  " 

The  young  man  blushed  vividly.  "  I  have  been 
fortunate  far  beyond  my  deserts,  sir.  The  Princess 
ISTada  ZourofF,  whom  I  first  met  in  London  at  the 
Russian  Embassy,  has  been  kind  enough " 

"  Don't  be  so  formal,  Nello,"  said  the  Baron  kindly, 
using  his  Christian  name  to  put  him  at  his  ease. 
"  You  need  not  tell  me  any  more.  I  had  a  long  talk 
with  Golitzine  this  afternoon.  Of  course  he  told  me 
many  things  and  amongst  them  was  this  item  of  news, 
that  ISTada  is  going  to  marry  you." 

This  wonderful  old  Salmoros  knew  everything,  but 
how  could  he  help  it,  when  so  many  channels  of  in- 
formation were  open  to  him  ?  Corsini's  answer  was 
a  still  deeper  blush. 

"  She  will  make  you  a  good  wife.  Golitzine  knows 
them  well ;  he  speaks  in  the  highest  terms  of  her  and 
her  mother.  The  father  was  a  bully  and  a  ruffian, 
the  brother  we  know  was  a  traitor,  and  will  get  his 
deserts." 

He  raised  his  glass,  bowing  to  the  young  man  with 
an  old-world  courtesy. 

"  To  the  health  of  your  fiancee,  the  future  Countess 
Corsini.     When  do  you  propose  to  marry  ?  " 

"  I  cannot  fix  the  exact  date,  Baron.  Her  mother, 
you  may  have  heard,  is  very  ill.     ISTada  has  only  re- 


THE  IISTTKIGUERS  313 

turned  to  the  Palace  to-day.  It  would  not  have  been 
safe  for  her  do  do  so  while  that  scoundrel  Boris  was 
at  large." 

Salmoros  mused  for  a  few  moments  before  he  spoke 
again.  "  So  jou  will  marry  as  soon  as  all  the  circum- 
stances will  permit.  And  I  take  it  you  will  reside 
in  England.  What  does  the  young  Princess  say  to 
that?" 

"  ISTada  loves  England,"  was  Corsini's  answer, 
and  after  the  events  of  last  night  Russia  will  not 
have  very  pleasant  recollections  for  her  or  her 
mother." 

"  True,"  agreed  the  Baron.  "  I  shall  very  much 
like  you  to  spend  part  of  your  honeymoon  with  me 
at  my  place  in  Sussex,  if  it  falls  in  with  your  arrange- 
ments." 

"  I  am  sure  we  shall  be  delighted,  sir,"  cried  iSTello. 
He  paused  and  added  a  little  nervously :  "  But  I  hope 
you  won't  want  to  send  me  on  any  more  missions  of 
this  sort.  If  so,  you  must  let  me  know  the  nature  of 
the  danger  beforehand." 

Salmoros  laughed  good-humourcdly.  "  ISTo,  my 
young  friend,  I  will  not  play  that  sort  of  trick  upon 
you  a  second  time.  Besides,  being  a  Count  and  the 
husband  of  a  very  charming  Princess,  I  doubt  if  I 
should  find  you  so  useful  for  my  purposes.  I  will 
do  my  utmost  to  advance  your  artistic  interests  in 
England,  instead.  But  remember,  it  is  a  promise; 
you  will  bring  your  wife  to  my  house  in  Sussex,  if 
not  upon  your  honeymoon,  at  some  time  convenient 
to  yourselves." 

Nello  assured  the  benevolent  old  Baron  that  they 


314  THE  INTRIGUERS 

would  certainly  accept  his  hospitality,  and  bade  him 
good-night. 

Outside  he  saw  the  four  stalwart  figures  of  his 
bodyguard  waiting  for  him.  Beilski  had  not  relaxed 
his  precautions.  It  was  still  possible  that  some  fanat- 
ical and  devoted  adherent  of  Zouroff  might  resolve 
to  avenge  his  defeated  chief. 

A  burly,  bearded  man  was  walking  up  and  down 
outside  the  door  of  the  hotel.  Corsini  recognised  him 
immediately  — "  Ivan  the  Cuckoo." 

The  four  men  drew  nearer,  as  they  perceived  the 
late  outlaw  was  accosting  him,  but  Corsini  raised  his 
hand  and  waved  them  back. 

"  I  waited  for  you,  Sig-nor,  to  express  my  thanks 
to  you  who  have  so  nobly  fulfilled  your  part  of  the 
bargain,"  said  Ivan,  speaking  in  low  tones.  "  I  was 
at  the  Count's  house  an  hour  ago ;  he  has  promised  me 
a  most  substantial  sum,  part  of  which  will  go  to  my 
good  old  comrade,  Stepan.  After  all,  Signor,  if  we 
must  be  truthful,  it  was  he  who  really  saved  the  Em- 
peror." 

'^  I  quite  agree,"  answered  Corsini.  Yes,  Stepan 
had  expressed  his  suspicions  to  Ivan,  and  Ivan's  quick 
wit  had  developed  the  plan  of  campaign,  which 
the  Italian  had  skilfully  conducted.  The  honours 
seemed  a  little  unequally  distributed.  Corsini  was 
a  Count,  with  a  handsome  sum  of  money.  Ivan  was 
to  have  also  a  substantial  pecuniary  reward,  and 
Stepan  was  to  have  some  share  of  what  Ivan  received. 
Still,  it  was  no  use  pondering  over  these  caprices  of 
fortune. 


THE  INTEIGUEKS  315 

"  Signer,"  went  on  the  late  outlaw,  "  I  am  sick  of 
Russia.  As  soon  as  I  get  my  money,  and  the  Count 
promises  it  inmiediately,  I  shall  leave  this  country. 
I  am  tired  of  it.  I  shall  go  to  England  —  I  hear  it 
is  a  land  of  the  free  —  set  up  a  business  there,  and 
turn  myself  into  an  honest  man." 

Corsini  shook  him  by  the  hand.  "  Bravo,  Ivan. 
Yes,  by  all  means  go  to  England.  It  is,  as  you  say,  a 
land  of  the  free.  I  shall  go  back  there  as  soon  as  I 
can.     I  am  not  over-fond  of  Russia." 

Ivan's  eyes  sparkled.  "  Perhaps,  Signor,  we  might 
meet  there  some  day,  if  it  would  not  be  presumption 
on  my  part  to  intrude  on  you." 

"  Nonsense,  my  good  Ivan.  I  shall  always  be 
pleased  to  see  you  in  memory  of  those  few  moments  we 
spent  before  the  village  ikon.  Here  is  an  address  to 
which  you  can  always  write  me." 

He  felt  very  grateful  to  Ivan.  If  it  had  not  been 
for  the  good  ser^nces  of  the  "  Cuckoo,"  he  would  never 
have  been  a  Count  of  the  Russian  Empire.  He 
handed  him  an  envelope  on  which  he  scribbled  his 
full  title  and  description,  addressed  to  the  care  of 
the  Baron  Salmoros.  Any  letter  directed  to  that 
quarter  would  be  sure  to  reach  him,  and  he  knew  the 
Baron  would  be  certain  to  pardon  him  for  taking  the 
liberty. 

A  little  later,  in  the  leafy  month  of  June,  Corsini 
and  his  charming  young  wife  spent  a  week-end  with 
Salmoros  at  his  beautiful  place,  Marwood  Park,  in 
Sussex. 


316  THE  INTRIGUERS 

Salmoros,  with  that  spirit  of  unconscious  ostenta- 
tion which  often  marks  the  nouveau  riche,  had  built 
himself  a  very  lordly  pleasure  house,  designed  by  an 
eminent  architect.  Although  a  childless  man,  and  a 
bachelor  to  boot,  he  had  insisted  upon  a  very  spacious 
dwelling. 

The  eminent  architect,  a  man  of  some  humour,  had 
remarked  to  him  when  he  laid  before  him  the  plans, 
"  Most  men,  Baron,  when  they  build  houses,  build 
them  too  small ;  afterwards  they  have  to  enlarge.  I 
have  made  ample  provision  here  for  another  wing, 
if  it  should  be  required.  It  will  not  destroy  the  gen- 
eral scheme  of  the  structure." 

Of  course,  when  the  eminent  architect  made  this 
suggestions,  Salmoros  was  comparatively  a  young 
man.  He  might  marry  and  want  to  put  aside  suites 
of  rooms  for  his  sons  and  daughters.  The  eminent 
architect  had  this  in  his  eye  when  he  suggested  the 
possibility  of  another  wing. 

Salmoros  had  agreed,  but  the  other  wing  had  never 
been  built.  He  had  not  married,  and  the  house  as  it 
stood  was  spacious  enough  for  his  wants. 

Here  he  stored  his  valuable  pictures,  his  rare  china, 
his  costly  antiques.  His  gardens  were  the  best  laid- 
out  in  England,  his  rock  walk  was  not  to  be  equalled 
in  the  kingdom,  his  hot-houses  were  the  pride  of  the 
county. 

Everything  that  money  could  purchase  was  his,  not 
from  a  mere  common  love  of  display,  but  that  he 
would  have  everything  of  the  best  —  cellars  stocked 
with  the  finest  wines,  cabinets  filled  with  the  most 
choice  cigars.     A  week-end  with  Salmoros  was  to  the 


THE  INTEIGUEES  317 

bon  viveur  a  period  of  ecstasy.  Everything  in  that 
well-appointed  menage  was  perfect. 

Even  ISTada,  accustomed  to  the  splendours  of  the 
Zouroff  Palace,  was  a  little  overwhelmed  by  the 
stately  magnificence  of  the  great  financier,  Corsini, 
of  humble  extraction,  was  fairly  dazzled  by  it. 

"  We  seem  to  walk  on  velvet,  darling,  don't  we  ?  " 
he  whispered  to  his  wife  as  they  went  down  the  great 
staircase.  "  If  we  could  only  have  a  little  music,  we 
might  think  we  were  in  Paradise." 

But  the  Baron  had  provided  for  that.  There  were 
no  other  guests  during  the  week-end.  With  the  whim 
of  an  old  man  he  had  wanted  to  have  them  to  him- 
self. 

During  the  perfect  dinner,  prepared  by  a  clief  to 
whom  he  paid  an  enormous  salary,  a  small  orchestra 
played  some  exquisite  music,  so  softly  rendered  that 
it  did  not  interfere  with  conversation.  Salmoros 
thought  out  all  these  things  with  the  true  spirit  of 
the  artist  —  the  artist  with  perhaps,  in  his  complex 
spirit,  a  little  of  the  Oriental. 

Nada  was  enchanted.  What  seemed  barbarous  in 
Russia  was  here  touched  with  refinement,  a  different 
thing  altogether.     What  a  wonderful  old  man  he  was ! 

And  Corsini  was  equally  delighted,  with  his  artis- 
tic appreciation  of  all  that  was  beautiful  and  refined. 
The  gaudy  splendours  of  the  Winter  Palace  w^ere  vul- 
gar compared  to  this  perfect  setting  —  and  only  for 
a  party  of  three  —  the  exquisite  glass  and  silver,  the 
snowy  napery,  the  well-trained  service,  the  full  but 
subdued  light,  and  that  orchestra  in  the  gallery  of  the 
vast  dining-room  rendering  that  beautiful,  but  not 


318  THE  INTRIGUERS 

obtrusive,  music,  every  member  of  the  small  band  an 
artist. 

The  long  meal  was  ended.     Salmoros  rose. 

"  Come  into  my  favourite  sitting-room,"  he  said. 
"  We  can  smoke  there  in  comfort,  and  Madame  can 
have  a  cigarette." 

He  led  the  way  into  a  cosy  chamber,  furnished  in 
the  most  exquisite  taste.  Easy,  comfortable  chairs 
abounded,  Salmoros  presented  a  cigarette  to  the 
Princess  and  offered  Corsini  one  of  his  choicest  cigars. 
There  was  a  little  period  of  silence,  and  then  the 
Baron  turned  to  Corsini. 

"  Have  you  brought  your  violin  with  you,  Nello  ?  " 

"  I  never  travel  without  it,  sir,"  replied  the  young 
man. 

"  Ah,  then,  when  we  have  had  our  smoke,  perhaps 
you  will  humour  an  old  man's  whim.  Will  you  play 
for  me  that  lovely  little  romance  which  was  always 
your  encore?  There  is  a  piano  in  yonder  corner. 
Perhaps  your  wife,  who  is  a  musician,  will  accompany 
you.     If  not,  I  will  do  my  best." 

Later  on  Nello  played,  his  charming  wife  accom- 
panying him.     The  Baron  listened,  enraptured. 

"  Ah,  my  dear  l^ello,  that  is  exquisite  music,  ex- 
quisitely rendered,"  he  said  when  Corsini  had  fin- 
ished. "  That  fellow  who  leads  my  orchestra  is 
good  —  good  enough  for  dinner  anyway  —  but  he 
has  not  your  perfect  touch.  Ah,  you  remember  me 
telling  you  once  what  I  would  give  if  you  could  teach 
me  to  play  like  you.     Well,  that  offer  is  still  open." 

Corsini  smiled.  "  What  would  I  not  give  to  be 
the  Baron  Salmoros  ?  " 


THE  INTRIGUEES  319 

The  Baron  raised  himself  from  his  artistic  dreams. 
"  Ah,  my  young  friend,  everybody  wants  something 
the  other  has  got,  and  so  it  will  be  to  the  end  of  time." 

He  looked  long  and  earnestly  at  the  young  couple 
before  he  spoke  again. 

"  Ah,  how  very  strange  is  the  world !  Why  should 
we  grope  our  way  in  dark,  tortuous,  and  devious  paths 
to  destruction  when  sincerity,  truth,  courage,  and 
honesty  of  purpose  will  do  it  with  less  trouble  and 
more  certainty.  I  sent  you  to  St.  Petersburg  because 
I  knew  the  peril  in  which  the  Emperor,  our  good  and 
faithful  friend,  existed  —  a  peril  which,  if  the  plot 
succeeded,  would  be  a  grave  disaster  to  our  own  di- 
plomacy of  Great  Britain,  and  to  all  other  countries, 
save  Germany.  The  plot  was  formed  here,  in  Lon- 
don, by  that  traitor.  Prince  Boris  Zouroff,  who  pos- 
sessed his  Majesty's  confidence.  But  all  has  ended, 
my  dear  Count  Corsini,  as  I  had  planned." 

Then  rising,  the  great  financier,  who  was  also  a 
statesman,  added  to  iN'ada :  "  And  I  wish  to  heartily 
congratulate  your  Highness  upon  your  husband  —  a 
man  in  whom  your  Emperor,  the  Queen  of  this  coun- 
try, and  myself  have  the  most  perfect  confidence." 


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